Hobbies And Interests
Identification
Unlike the larvae of most beetle species, ladybug larvae is not a worm or a grub. It is a unique-looking larvae that is often described as looking like a tiny lizard or alligator. The ladybug larvae has a long abdomen with six small legs near the top of its body. It is black with two bright orange stripes on the sides of its abdomen and is covered in tiny tufts of spiky hairs.
Egg Case
Ladybug larvae emerge from eggs that adult ladybugs lay on the underside of leaves. Most species of ladybug larvae will eat their egg casing after they hatch, making it the first thing it will ever eat. This allows the baby ladybug to obtain some nutrition as soon as it hatches and before it has a chance to find food.
Insects
Most insect larvae eat plant material, but baby ladybugs eat insects just like adult ladybugs. They will often eat aphids and mites, or even small flies. The amount of time a ladybug spends as a larvae before it pupates into an adult ladybug depends on how much food the larvae eats. In most cases it will pupate in a matter of weeks if it can eat enough insects.
Commercial Food
Ladybug larvae can be fed commercial ladybug food, which is sold in garden centers. This commercial ladybug food is often sold in spray form, and it can be sprayed onto outdoor garden plants or placed on a piece of sponge for the larvae to feed from if they are being raised indoors. Ladybug kits are also sold online, which allow children to raise ladybugs from the larval stage to adult beetles and to observe their whole life cycle. These ladybug kits come with special food, which is in powder form, for the ladybug larvae.