Senator Mary Louise Hancock of Concord became a prime sponsor in the upper branch, as Mrs. Johnson won the support of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs for the ladybug. President Alf E. Jacobson referred the ladybug to the Senate Committee on Environmental Control, and its chairman, Phyllis M. Keeney of Hudson promptly got in touch with the Broken Ground School Sponsors for a friendly hearing on their proposal. On April 12, the Senate was informed that HB 259 had been enrolled in permanent form and sent to Governor Meldrim Thomson, Jr., for his signature. He signed the ladybug into law on April 15, to become effective 60 days later, which fell on June 14, the annual national Flag Day anniversary. In an unprecedented legislative compliment, Senator Hancock induced her 23 Senate associates to join with her in attaching their signatures to a copy of the ladybug bill, whereupon she had it framed and presented to the young sponsors for permanent display in their school.
Ladybugs feed chiefly on plant lice and scale insects.
For this reason, fruit growers find ladybugs helpful. The pupils also testified that the ladybug is a sign of good luck, and that most folks are always careful not to harm one. Manual for the General Court 1981. The spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens , is hereby designated as the official state amphibian of New Hampshire. The spotted newt was designated the state amphibian in 1985 after a two year effort by high school students.