There is a lack of clarity
Unfortunately, the ladybird larvae do not make it easy to recognize them and differentiate them from other larvae. Because their appearance varies quite a lot from species to species. However, a few appearance features can be filtered out as a common denominator:
- flat, uncurved, wide shape
- covered lengthways with warts with hair bristles
- spotted pattern
- 3 quite long pairs of breastbones
also read
- The many different types of ladybugs
- The promising eggs of the ladybug
- This is what the leaves of a beech look like
What is more variable:
- Length: between 1.5 and 15 millimeters
- Color: sometimes gray-black, sometimes black-tomato-red, sometimes blue-orange, sometimes yellow-black
- mostly resemblance to the later beetle appearance
When examining a possible ladybug larva in your garden, gently feel its body. It is coated with a layer of wax to protect it from ants and other predators.
Another note: after molting, the color of the ladybird larvae is particularly intense.
In the pupation stage, you can easily recognize a ladybug larva by the fact that it is sitting in a mummy doll. So she is completely curved in her metamorphosis rigidity, including her legs.
Let's take a closer look at the larvae of certain types of ladybirds:
Seven-spotted ladybug larva
The larva of this common ladybug prototype has nothing in common with the later appearance of the adult beetle: it is bluish in color and has light red spots on the third and sixth segments. The head is similarly colored and beautifully patterned. At the back the body tapers to a point.
Asian ladybug larva
The larva of the Asian ladybird, which is now almost the most common among us, looks quite similar to the later beetle. It is usually black with bright red, closely spaced side spots.
Twenty-two spotted ladybug larva
The larva of this delightful beetle also has the same coloration as it will later have as a beetle: namely yellow with black spots.
Two-point ladybug
The larva of this species is usually greyish in color and has two light red colored spots on the third segment and a larger, same colored spot on the sixth segment. Her broad body tapers to a point at the back.
