Cute turtle.

All species of Ladybugs, native or non-native, contain alkaloids. They can be toxic. They release these compounds when harrassed. If you're rough enough with one, you should be able to smell a noxious smell. As such, your turtles probably wouldn't eat them anyway. They may bite them, but they'd regret it. A good rule of thumb is to avoid feeding insects with bright colors...they're often warnings of toxicity.

In a few months, the Junebugs (or whatever the local name for them is) will begin to congregate on window screens around porch lights in large numbers. The "softer" and smaller rust colored ones are relished by all of my turtles. I can collect hundreds before 10pm! In the West, I've been told that they are black and harder. However, my friends' turtles seem to like them all the same.

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