Ladybird Lifecycle
Eggs – usually laid on plants in batches, eggs are yellow/oange in colour and hatch within 4 – 10 days, depending on temperature.
Larvae – varying in colour, these can be grey, yellow, buff or brown depending on he species. Most have a pattern of pale spots on some of the abdominal segments. They eat any unhatched eggs in their batch then disperse to feed.
Pupae – these vary in colour from of-white through various shades of yellow, orange, ey or brown to black. Many have spots or patterns on the main background colour. The pupal stage lasts 7-10 days.
Adult - The emerging adult looks yellow and unpatterned. But as blood is pumped into the elytra and wings to expand them the colour patters develop over the first hours of adult life.
