Ladybugs' Life Cycles

No insect has brought as much joy, color and folklore to the world as the ladybug. The presence of a ladybug is said to forecast good weather, good crops, marriage, children, money and more. Ladybugs are surrounded in so much mystery that we sometimes forget they are beetles.

Typical ladybug.

Egg

Mating ladybugs.

Adult ladybugs mate in the spring. The female lays about 300 eggs on the underside of a leaf, which hides and protects it. The eggs are tiny, yellow ovals. Touching the eggs will likely damage them, so admire and observe them from a distance.

Larva

Ladybug larva on a plant.

After two to five days, the egg hatches and the larva emerges. The larvae do not resemble adult ladybugs. They are black or gray with some orange or yellow spots, and their bodies are long and thin. As the larvae grow, they molt several times, leaving behind their shed skin. Larvae remain in this state for about three weeks.

Pupa

Ladybug pupa attached to a leaf.

When it is grown, the larva attaches to a leaf and encases itself in a hard shell to become a pupa. While inside the casing, the larva undergoes a metamorphosis much like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. It remains in the pupa stage for about one week.

Adult

Ladybug colony.

An adult ladybug emerges from the pupa. Most adults are a solid orange or red color, and they only develop spots after 24 hours. A ladybug lives for one to two years. During the winter, the adults hibernate in colonies, and they come out to mate during the spring.

Diet

Ladybug eating aphids.

Both as a larva and an adult, the ladybug eats aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Laying the eggs on a leaf ensures that the larvae will receive their first meal shortly after hatching. Ladybugs are seen as an asset to a farm or garden because the insects they eat are harmful to crops. They act as natural exterminators.

References

• The Life Cycle of a Ladybug
• Ladybug Life Cycle
• Ladybug Lore