How do small insects (e.g. ladybugs and smaller) find each other, for the purpose of mating? Obviously, a large insect can locate a prospective mate by sight alone, and “social” insects are already in proximity of others of its kind. But how do small non-social insects find each other? By pheromones? If so, at what maximum distance can these be detected?
Some may use pheromones, which often can be detected almost 30 miles away by some moths. Other insects may find mates by zeroing in on some food source (a fruiting tree, for example) or a site suitable for egg-laying (say a pond) to which other individuals are attracted as well.