Life Cycle Of A Lady Beetle
Lady beetles are a farmers and agriculturists favorite because they do a lot of good things for the crops. They rid the crop off insects and pests, and help in maintaining a healthy output from the crop. There are nearly four hundred and fifty species of lady beetles in North America. Some are indigenous to the continent, while others have come from abroad. |
The lady beetles tend to eat mites, small insects likes aphids, and also other insect eggs. They do not feed on plants and hence, are safe to the crop.
The lady beetles are found over winter along the hedgerows, under rocks and leaves, barks, and also in any kind of protected places. They can even reside in buildings. During the spring time, the adult beetles go out in search of prey, and they choose the best spots for laying eggs. This trait is observed in almost all the species of beetles, especially in the migratory ones.
The female of the species can lay anywhere from 20 eggs to over thousand eggs during a period of 3 month. They start laying the eggs in the early months of summer. These eggs are deposited preferably near preys like aphids and other insect eggs. The eggs of the lady beetles are rather small, and they are shaped like a spindle. The larvae look very much like an alligator, and they start feeding on the insect eggs and aphids. After the larva enters the pupal stage, it could last for 13 days, and then the adult beetle comes out.
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