With their culinary preference for pests, ladybugs are good friends for every hobby gardener. Of course, it is of interest to see how the spotted little fellows reproduce - and whether one can encourage their reproduction. Let's take a close look at both.
Ladybugs can take up to 18 hours to mate
The ladybug life
A ladybug's life is divided into the following stages:
- egg
- larva
- pupation
- Imago (adult beetle)
One generation is produced each year. As an imago, a ladybug lives for another year, sometimes for two.
Mating and larval development in the natural habitat
The annual cycle of ladybirds begins relatively early, in late winter. As soon as they wake up from hibernation, the beetles start looking for a partner. If a couple finds itself together, copulation occurs immediately, i.e. mating, which can take quite a long time. Depending on the condition of the beetles and the environmental conditions, a couple needs between half an hour and a full 18 hours! The male sits on the female from behind and holds her tightly.
A female can be mated with up to 20 different males. However, it is usually already fertilized after one mating and can lay eggs. It produces up to 400 of these, which it deposits in small groups, preferably on the underside of leaves or on the bark of trees. However, some species also lay eggs individually.
After 5-8 days the larvae hatch and begin a development period of one to two months. The duration depends on the ambient temperature, the humidity and the food supply. Towards the end, the larvae pupate in a mummy pupa, in which they develop into the finished beetle within about a week and a half.
This is how you encourage propagation
If you want to encourage ladybugs in the garden, that's a good idea. In order for the lucky pest killers to multiply well, it is best to create favorable wintering conditions for them. Because after the winter break, the still weakened beetles don't want to fly around looking for a romantic partner for a long time, but want to get started as soon as possible. Heaps of leaves that have been left behind, natural stone walls or insect hotels can be beneficial.
In general, a natural, species-rich and not too tidy garden design is also beneficial. Here the beetles find more food and shelter.
You can also selectively multiply ladybugs in your own vivarium. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this here.