As an entomologist with a focus on insect development, I can tell you that ladybugs, also known as ladybird beetles, go through several distinct stages in their life cycle, which are egg, larva, pupa, and adult. When ladybugs are in their larval stage, which is essentially their baby or juvenile form, they look quite different from their adult stage.

Ladybug larvae are typically elongated, worm-like in shape with a slightly tapered rear end. They are often gray or black with spots or patterns that can vary depending on the species. Some species have a bright orange or yellow color with black spots, while others may have a more subdued coloration. One of the most distinctive features of ladybug larvae is that they have a pair of large, black, Y-shaped markings on their backs, which can be a key identification feature.

As they grow, ladybug larvae will shed their skin, a process known as molting, and eventually, they will enter the pupal stage, where they transform into the more familiar adult ladybug form with the distinctive red or orange wing covers and black spots.

read more >>

Egg Stage. Female ladybugs lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. ... A mother ladybug will lay from ten to fifteen eggs in one place and she will make sure that it is a place where the babies can find food when they hatch. The ladybug eggs look similar to yellow jellybeans, except that they are tiny.read more >>