Ladybug larvae like to eat aphids. Some species also do not disdain spider mites, scale insects and mildew fungi. Beneficial insects are very welcome in the natural garden as a powerful protective aid in biological pest control. Read exciting information about the development from the egg to the finished beetle in this guide. You can find out how to breed ladybird larvae yourself, what the caterpillars eat and where to find the busy little helpers here.

Ladybug larvae like to eat aphids

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Ladybird larvae development
  3. Breeding ladybug larvae instructions
  4. Expose ladybug larvae
  5. Ladybug larvae find where?
  6. 3 Common Ladybug Larvae Species
  7. Prevent ladybug plague
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Ladybird larvae are highly valued beneficial insects for the successful control of aphids and other pests.
    • The development from egg to adult ladybug extends over four stages lasting 30 to 60 days.
    • In order to increase the population, hobby gardeners can breed ladybird larvae themselves and expose them in the bed or on the balcony.

    Ladybug larvae development - overview in words and pictures

    When ladybugs wake up from hibernation, they immediately take care of family planning. Mating ladybirds search specifically for aphid colonies and lay numerous oval, yellowish eggs there, either individually or in groups. Thanks to this strategy, the offspring are served food on a silver platter. Ladybug larvae have to go through four strenuous stages of development before they emerge as colorful beetles. The following overview summarizes the fascinating process:

    • 1st stage: Oviposition at the end of April/beginning of May, mostly on the underside of leaves, on needles, in cracks in trees
    • 2nd stage: Larvae hatch after 5-10 days and start feeding
    • 3rd stage: Larval stage for 30-60 days with 3-4 moults as the main feeding phase with up to 100 aphids per day
    • 4th stage: Pupation for 6 to 9 days as a motionless resting period without feeding

    After pupation, the finished ladybirds hatch with a creamy yellow body colour. Only after a phase of hardening do adult ladybirds show off spots on their shiny, red, yellow or black elytra and reveal their species affiliation to the viewer. Incidentally, the metamorphosis into a beetle does not put an end to their function as beneficial insects. Adult ladybirds also eat all kinds of lice, albeit with less appetite than their ever-hungry offspring.

    After only about 10 days, the larvae hatch from the eggs

    Explanation of the larval stage

    The most important phase for their function as beneficial insects in the natural garden is the larval stage. If the hobby gardener does not know the essential identifying features, ladybug larvae are often eliminated as supposed pests. Notwithstanding numerous variations in coloration and shape, the caterpillars possess a certain basic appearance that facilitates identification.

    As a rule, the elongated body is widest just behind the head. A larva tapers continuously towards the end of the body. Individual body segments stand out, which are often covered with thorns or bristles. Powerful legs are used for fast pursuit of prey and active search for aphids. Ladybug larvae are often covered with a wax coating that acts as a shell against enemies such as ants, birds or frogs.

    The pictures below illustrate the fascinating process from the tiny egg to the finished ladybug.

    Breeding ladybug larvae yourself - step-by-step instructions

    To increase the population in the garden, you can breed and release ladybird larvae yourself. Fully equipped breeding sets from specialist retailers are well suited for this purpose. As a positive side effect, you and your children can experience the development from egg to ladybug up close. The following instructions explain step by step how to breed ladybug larvae yourself and how to properly settle them in the garden:

    1. Order the breeding set between the beginning of March and mid-September (calculate 2-3 weeks in advance)
    2. Take the rearing vivarium out of the packaging and set it up in a bright, warm place at 15°-25° Celsius
    3. Place the food provided in the freezer until ready to use
    4. Leave the transparent jar closed until the eggs have turned into 3-4 mm small larvae
    5. In the 2nd larval stage (after 2-5 days) carefully move the larvae into the larger box supplied
    6. Immediately after moving, feed hungry larvae for the first time (thaw food in advance)
    7. Second feeding End of 3rd/beginning of 4th larval stage at 7-8 mm in size
    8. Important: Briefly open the lid of the rearing box for feeding and close it again immediately

    After the second feeding, ladybird larvae enter the pupation phase. From this point on, the larvae no longer receive food. The metamorphosis from larva to beetle takes an average of one week. During the delicate stage, the motionless dolls must not be removed from their support or touched. Once a beetle has shed its cocoon, it goes out into nature after 2 days at the latest. Temperatures around 18° Celsius and dry weather are ideal conditions for releasing ladybirds that you have bred yourself.

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    Feeding ladybug larvae

    Rearing kits already contain the food that ladybugs need for development from egg to pupation. As a rule, these are mealworms as a substitute for natural food. Alternatively, you can feed your pupils yourself. Now the question arises: what do ladybug larvae actually eat? The following overview sheds light on the darkness:

    • aphids
    • scale insects
    • mites, preferably spider mites
    • Larvae of other insects such as butterflies
    • mildew fungi
    • Bee pollen, preferably from marigolds, cornflowers, geraniums and wild herbs of all kinds

    When food becomes scarce, ladybird larvae attack weaker members of the same species. Caterpillars that have already hatched often eat up all the eggs they can get their hands on in cold blood. You can effectively prevent cannibalism during rearing if you always have frozen mealworms in stock. If you don't have time to collect lice in nature, feed hungry ladybug larvae previously thawed mealworms.

    Release ladybug larvae - tips & tricks

    Ladybugs can be released as larvae or as adults

    It is up to your personal decision whether you release ladybirds from your own breeding already in the larval stage. Advantage of this approach: The caterpillars come into the garden at the most voracious stage of their development to hunt for aphids. Disadvantage of premature resettlement: You and your children miss the fascinating process of pupation. The following tips and tricks reveal how to properly release ladybird larvae:

    • temperature: at least 15° Celsius (ideally 18°-22° Celsius)
    • location: Shrubs, trees, perennials and flowers with aphids
    • Mode of Transport: bio box, brushes, paper strips
    • distribution rate: 10 ladybird larvae for 10 m², 20 larvae for 20 m²

    Ladybug larvae are delicate creatures. Release in the garden requires a lot of finesse so that the tiny caterpillars survive the risky procedure unscathed. You can significantly reduce the failure rate by releasing the larvae in cardboard bio-boxes. The roof of a box is only opened when the little residents have acclimatized after a few hours and the conditions are suitable at the chosen location. The organic boxes (without content) are available, for example, at wormsprofi.de at a reasonable price.

    digression

    Caution biting - bite ladybug larvae

    When ladybird larvae hatch, they gnaw through the shell with egg teeth. These tiny teeth are lost again in the first instar larvae and are not a cause for concern for humans. In exchange for the harmless egg teeth, a solid mouthpart develops, which is primarily used for the quick consumption of aphids. If ladybird larvae feel threatened by humans, they have no qualms about defending themselves with a powerful bite. Of course, human skin is too thick to sustain serious damage. In the worst case, the victims register slight pain, like after a needle stick. The culprits are mostly immigrated Asian ladybird larvae with a much more aggressive disposition than the good-natured caterpillars of native seven-spot ladybirds.

    Where can you find ladybug larvae?

    Ladybird larvae are mainly found on plants infested with aphids

    The larvae of seven-spot, two-spot, or harlequin ladybirds are avid aphid scavengers. Therefore, keep an eye out for plants with aphid infestation if you want to find the beneficial insects in the wild, in the garden or on the balcony. We have compiled the most common locations of ladybird larvae below:

    • shrubs: roses, elderberry, berry bushes
    • herbs: dill, chives, cumin, coriander, basil
    • weeds: dandelion, nettles, meadow clover, red clover
    • flowers and perennials: Corn poppy, cornflower, cosmos flower, sea lavender, pelargonium

    Then there are the specialists in ladybug country, settling on favored plants. North of the Alps, for example, this is the daring ant seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella magnifica), which is mainly found near anthills, i.e. in the immediate vicinity of its enemies. The mountain ladybird (Hippodamia notata) is not afraid of heights and often lives in the mountains. Other location experts reveal their preferences by name, such as the heather ladybird (Coccinella hieroglyphica), dry grass ladybird (Coccinula quatuordecimpustulata) or conifer ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata). It's obvious: where the mother ladybird likes to stay, her offspring also cavort.

    Identify common ladybug larvae - 3 types

    The ladybug family is represented worldwide with more than 6000 species and countless subspecies. Even experienced entomologists get dizzy in view of the impressive variety of species with thousands upon thousands of pattern variants. Nevertheless, ladybird larvae look confusingly similar, because the telltale elytra dots as an indicator of species affiliation only form in the adult ladybird. If you look closely, you will still see important distinguishing features. The following table gives important information for identification of the three most common ladybird larvae species:

    Seven-spot ladybird larvae Two-spot ladybird larvae Asian ladybird larvae
    Scientific name Coccinella septempunctata Adalia bipunctata Harmonia axyridis
    popular name lucky beetle two point harlequin
    coloring grey, grey-blue, brown, yellow dark gray to light gray yellow-green, later black to blue-grey
    drawing lateral dark-colored spots, colored head spotless or up to 7 blemishes, dark head orange spots on both sides, black-grey head

    Reliable, serious statements about the size of ladybird larvae as a distinguishing feature are not possible. The information in the technical literature ranges from 1.5 to 15 millimeters. Naturally, the larvae increase in size and length as they progress through the four stages of development.

    The Asian ladybird is increasingly crowding out the native 7-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) (shown here)

    Special case Australian ladybird larvae

    Australian ladybird larvae (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri), popularly known as white ladybird larvae, occupy a special position. As the common name suggests, the bodies are mostly light to white in color, which makes a striking difference to native and Asian species.

    White ladybird larvae are only viable at temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius and a humidity of at least 50 percent. The larvae eat mealybugs and mealybugs. Aphids, however, are spurned. These characteristics qualify Australian ladybird larvae for biological pest control in living spaces and conservatories. If cacti, orchids and other indoor plants suffer from a white coating, the beneficial insects are happy to take on the problem with great appetite.

    tips

    Ants are bitter enemies of ladybug larvae. For an ant colony, the rich excrement from aphids is an important source of food. For this reason, ant soldiers will defend an aphid colony with all their might. The thick wax armor offers the caterpillars good protection against corrosive formic acid. Nevertheless, the strong ants always succeed in pushing or killing ladybird larvae from the leaves. On the other hand, the hostile hordes of ants are at a loss against adult ladybirds.

    Prevent ladybug plague in time

    High occurrence of ladybug larvae in the garden is not always a source of pure joy. In fact, masses of eggs, larvae and pupae herald an autumn beetle plague. In October and November, adult ladybirds gather in large swarms to look out for safe winter quarters. In the absence of natural retreats, the beetles invade houses, apartments, hallways or roller shutter boxes and make themselves unpopular as a winter beetle plague. The beetles often have to pay for their desperate act with their lives, because dry, warm heating air is usually deadly.

    When ladybugs get the upper hand, they can become a nuisance

    Foresighted hobby gardeners do not let things get that far and offer suitable winter quarters to ladybugs looking for an apartment in late autumn. The following options have proven themselves in garden practice as recommended retreats for the cold season:

    • Premium solution: Build or buy a ladybug house yourself and hang it up
    • Near-natural option: pile up piles of leaves or wood, leave rotten tree stumps lying around
    • Simple winter help: don't mow the lawn in autumn, leave the perennial clippings in the bed

    Low temperatures are essential for ladybugs to survive. So that the ladybirds can fall into hibernation, cozy warm rooms with dry heating air are unsuitable. If ladybugs have strayed into the house, careful relocation outside can be life-saving for the valuable beneficial insects.

    frequently asked Questions

    How does the development of ladybird larvae proceed? How many stadiums are there?

    When the tiny ladybug larvae hatch from their egg, they first eat up the nutritious shell with tiny egg teeth. The caterpillars already have six nimble legs for hunting aphids and other prey. Ladybird larvae go through four stages of development. To reach the next instar, the larvae stop feeding for a short time. The caterpillars attach their abdomen to a surface and molt. After moulting, ladybug larvae stretch and stretch and grow to a new size in this way. In the fourth and last stage, the pupation to the finished ladybug is on the agenda.

    Can ladybug larvae bite?

    Yes, especially the larvae of Asian harlequin ladybirds bite when they feel threatened. For this purpose, the caterpillars have powerful mouthparts with which they clean their favorite prey, aphids and scale insects. Of course, a bite is not painful or even dangerous. The human epidermis is too thick to sustain serious damage. Furthermore, ladybird larvae are not poisonous.

    We would like to breed ladybug larvae ourselves. How does it work?

    You can buy breeding kits for ladybird larvae in specialist shops. This contains either about 100 eggs or 10 to 15 larvae in the first or second stage of development as well as the necessary food to hatch as finished ladybirds. The Hagemann breeding set, for example, includes the larvae of two-spot ladybirds, which have proven to be particularly voracious aphid hunters. The rearing vivarium included in the set can be reused for breeding other ladybird larvae.

    What do ladybug larvae like to eat?

    For a ladybug larva, nothing beats a tasty aphid

    Aphids are at the top of the menu for ladybug larvae. The caterpillars do not despise other types of lice, such as scale insects, mealybugs and mealybugs. The latter are primarily targeted by white ladybird larvae from Australia. If aphids are rare in the garden, the caterpillars expand their range of prey to include bugs, butterfly larvae, insect eggs and soft-shelled insects. In addition, ladybug larvae like to eat pollen from wildflowers and herbs.

    Are Ladybug Larvae Harmful?

    The extent to which ladybug larvae can be harmful is a matter of controversial debate among experts. Native species such as seven-spot or two-spot ladybirds are above suspicion. On the other hand, the massive spread of Asian ladybird larvae for biological pest control is viewed critically. Since immigrating in the 1980s, harlequin ladybirds have become widespread in Europe. Experts fear that the aggressive immigrants will displace native species in the long term. Field observations and laboratory tests prove that in confrontations seven-point and two-point always lose out.

    We breed ladybird larvae ourselves, which are currently in the second larval stage. The caterpillars stop eating and hang motionless in the vivarium. Are all larvae dead?

    No, the ladybird larvae are not dead. Rather, the caterpillars are in the transition phase from one larval stage to the next. During this time they do not eat and remain motionless on a solid surface. Now the beneficial insects are concentrating on slipping out of their old, much too tight skin as quickly as possible. After moulting, it is stretched with pleasure. In a new size, the hungry ladybird larvae are actively looking for food.

    tips

    With a thriving natural garden, you send the perfect, non-verbal invitation to ladybugs and their larvae. Where wild herbs, native perennials, fruit and ornamental trees bloom side by side, the spotted aphid killers are not far. If hobby gardeners consistently do without pesticides, ladybug ladies like to consider beds and balconies as nurseries.

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Animals in the garden