don't call this a ladybug, because it's nothing of the sort. It's got big black patches instead of little red circles. It's a milkweed leaf beetle.

In fact, don't even call a ladybug a ladybug. This actually bothers a lot of entomologists because, well, it's not a "bug", it's a beetle. Enough times I've hear my insects prof correct someone and say "ladybird beetle"

These guys are "posers", meaning they'll stop moving for a minute or so, then move a little bit, and stay still for another little bit, giving you multiple poses which you can photograph

Fun Fact: The hard "shell" around a beetle's body is actually its forewings. Thousands of generations of evolution have morphed the forewings into a protective casing with the hindwings beneath. This allows beetles to exploit all sorts of habitats and still have the advantage of flying. Consequently, beetles are the most diverse group of animals in the world. There are over 300,000 species of beetles worldwide.