Lady Bug LifeCycle
Common Name: Ladybugs
Scientific Name: Coccinellidae
Type: Invertebrates
Diet: Omnivore
Average Life Span: 2-3 years
Size: 0.3 to 0.4 inches
4 Stages of Lady Bug LifeCycle
- EGG
- LARVA
- PUPA
- ADULT
EGG: This is the FIRST stage of a ladybug’s life cycle. The female ladybug lays fertilized eggs, usually on the leaves or stems of plants. The eggs are very tiny and may be in different shapes, like spherical, oval, or cylindrical. The eggs are usually laid in clusters and are yellow or orange in color.
LARVA: The larva that hatches from the egg is the SECOND stage of the life cycle of the ladybug. The plural for larva is called LARVAE.
At this stage, the hard outer layer of the ladybug, called the EXOSKELETON, is removed. This process of exoskeleton removal is also called MOLTING.
In simple words, molting means shedding outgrown skin.
Ladybug larvae look like tiny alligators. They have elongated bodies and bumpy exoskeletons.
A larva’s main activity is EATING. They primarily feed on tiny mites, aphids, and other small insects.
Before going to the third stage of life, larvae increase their body mass by many times their birth size. The step-by-step development of larvae that occurs between molts is called the instar. Ladybug larvae usually molt through four instars before entering the pupa stage.
What Do Ladybugs Eat?
What is the classification of Lady Bug?
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Arthropoda
Class – Insecta
Order – Coleoptera
Family – Coccinellidae
Why Do Ladybugs Have Spots?
Ladybugs have spots for several reasons, such as camouflage when they’re in hibernation, warning predators about their bad taste and toxins, communication during their mating season, and thermoregulation. More about lady bug lifecycle.