Life Stages of a Ladybug

Quck answer

Ladybugs go through four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs are laid on plants and hatch into larvae, which look like tiny alligators with six legs. The larvae go through several molts and eventually attach themselves to a plant to form a pupa. Inside the pupa, the larva transforms into an adult ladybug. Once fully developed, the adult ladybug emerges from the pupa and begins to hunt for aphids and other small insects to eat. Ladybugs live for about one year and can lay hundreds of eggs during their lifetime.

Wild Animals

This ladybird isn’t flying away home. See more pictures of insects.
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Most people can recognize a ladybug with its round, red body and black spots, but did you know that they come in a variety of colors and markings? Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybirds, can be pink, black, yellow, or orange with different colored spots. Ladybug larvae look like lizards and are often overlooked.

Let’s learn more about the different stages of a ladybug’s life, from egg to adult.

4: Egg

The start of a ladybug life cycle
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Ladybugs lay their eggs in the spring or summer on protected surfaces near a colony of prey like aphids or mealbugs. The eggs are oval-shaped and can be orange or yellow in color. A female ladybug can lay anywhere from 20 to 1,000 eggs during the egg-laying season. The eggs usually hatch in a week or a few days, and the larvae emerge and eat their own eggshells.

3: Larva

Not what you think of when you hear the word “ladybug”
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Ladybug larvae look like tiny black alligators with spines and spots. They typically stay in the larval stage for three to four weeks and molt four times. During this time, they eat and grow, but they also face the threat of cannibalism. Some larvae move away from other ladybugs to avoid being eaten.

The stages of development between each molting are called instars. After the fourth molting, the larvae enter the pupal stage.

2: Pupa

When a ladybug larva is ready to move to the next stage of its life, it enters the prepupa stage. During this stage, the larva attaches itself to a surface such as a plant leaf, stops moving and feeding, and curls up a bit. Some of the larval skin may still be present, but the future beetle begins to resemble a ladybug more than a lizard. The pupa changes in color, often becoming darker or more orange. This stage is a time of transition that lasts around a week before the ladybug emerges from its pupal skin.

1: Adult

When a ladybug first becomes an adult, it has soft wings and is lighter in color than it will be in the future. After shedding its pupal skin, it takes a couple of days for the ladybug’s vibrant wing covers to harden. Once they do, the ladybug can fly and display its red and black wings. Another noticeable change is that the ladybug may secrete a yellow liquid from its leg joints, which is actually hemolymph, or blood, that warns predators to stay away. The adult ladybug feeds on aphids, mealybugs, insect eggs, and pollen before beginning the mating process and starting the life cycle over again.

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More Great Links

• The Ladybug Lady

Sources

• Bessin, Ric. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Last revised January 2007. (Accessed May 15, 2009)http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef105.asp
• Cranshaw, W.S. “Lady Beetles.” Colorado State University Extension. November 2006. (Accessed May 19, 2009)http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/INSECT/05594.html
• Cunningham, Alexander et al. “Lady Beetles of Nebraska.” University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension. (Accessed May 19, 2009)http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/ec1780/build/ec1780.pdf
• Frank, J. Howard and Russell F. Mizell. “Featured creatures: ladybug.” University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. November 2000. Last revised November 2006. (Accessed May 15, 2009)http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/lady_beetles.htm
• Thomas, Lesley. “Coccinella septempunctata.” University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Web. 2001. (Accessed May 18, 2009)http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Coccinella_septempunctata.html
• Weeden, Catherine, Anthony M. Shelton and Michael P. Hoffmann. “Lady Beetles.” “Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America.” Cornell University. (Accessed May 18, 2009)http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/ladybintro.html

FAQ

1. What are the four stages of a ladybug’s life?

A ladybug goes through four distinct stages in its life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The egg stage lasts for about four to five days, after which the larva emerges. The larva feeds on aphids and other small insects for about two to three weeks, after which it enters the pupa stage. The pupa stage lasts for about five to seven days, during which the larva transforms into an adult ladybug. The adult ladybug can live for up to a year and lays eggs to start the life cycle all over again.

2. How long does the egg stage of a ladybug last?

The egg stage of a ladybug lasts for about four to five days. The female ladybug lays her eggs on a plant near a food source, such as aphids. The eggs are usually laid in groups of 10 to 50 and are yellow or orange in color. After the eggs hatch, the larva emerges and begins its journey through the other stages of the life cycle.

3. What do ladybug larvae eat?

Ladybug larvae eat aphids and other small insects. They have a voracious appetite and can eat up to 400 aphids during their larval stage. The larvae have a unique appearance, with long bodies and spiky protrusions on their backs. They are often mistaken for pests themselves and are sometimes killed by gardeners who don’t recognize them as beneficial insects.

4. How long does the adult stage of a ladybug last?

The adult stage of a ladybug can last for up to a year. During this time, the ladybug will mate and lay eggs to start the life cycle all over again. Ladybugs are beneficial insects that help control aphids and other pests in gardens and agricultural fields. They are also considered a sign of good luck in many cultures and are often featured in children’s stories and artwork.

5. What is the purpose of the pupa stage in a ladybug’s life cycle?

The pupa stage in a ladybug’s life cycle is a time of transformation. During this stage, the larva transforms into an adult ladybug. The pupa is usually attached to a leaf or stem and is protected by a hard outer shell. Inside the shell, the insect undergoes a metamorphosis that transforms it from a crawling, spiky larva into a flying, colorful adult. The pupa stage lasts for about five to seven days, after which the adult ladybug emerges and begins its life as a beneficial insect in the ecosystem.