Ladybugs feed on Aphids and a variety of slow moving insects during their adult and larval stages. Ladybugs are a must have for organic gardening / farming. The life cycle of the ladybug is between four to six weeks. In the spring, adults lay up to three hundred eggs in an aphid colony that will hatch in 2-5 days. The newly hatched larvae feed on the Aphids for up to three weeks before entering the pupae stage. In about a week the adult ladybug will emerge, however, they will not have their spots for their first 24 hrs. If you catch one with out spots, you may have found a brand new adult!
Lifespan of the Ladybug (Hippodamia Convergens):
The process of hatching from the eggs to becoming adult ladybugs will take roughly 3 - 4 weeks in summer, and 6 weeks in spring. When released, our live adult ladybugs should mate and lay eggs within 8-10 days of being released .The eggs will hatch into larvae within 5 days. The newly hatched larvae will feed on Aphids for up to three weeks, and then they will enter the pupae stage. The adult ladybug emerges about a week later. However, they usually don't have their black spots for their first 24 hrs. of their adult hood. So, if your catch one with out spots, you may have found a brand new adult. There may be as many as six generations of ladybugs hatching in a year. Temperature and food availability will determine the timing of each stage and reproduction. One female can lay up to 1,500 eggs over their 100 - day lifetime.
Release Instructions for Ladybugs:
Once you have made it home with your Ladybugs, put them in a household refrigerator but DO NOT FREEZE THEM. Ideally the live Ladybugs should be released in the evening or very early morning when it is cool or overcast so they move more slowly. Do not release during the heat of the day, as heat causes Ladybugs to become overly active and they are more likely to fly away and find shelter away from the original release site. Prior to releasing, water your plants and leaves. This will hydrate and relax your ladybugs after their journey. Ladybugs should be released a few at a time on all plants, twice a week during the season when your plants are lush and attractive to pests.
When you buy live Ladybugs from Naturesgoodguys.com they are shipped as adults in containers, pouches, mesh bags and cloth bags. Storing the beetles can be done at a temperature of 40°F to 60°F for 1 - 3 weeks. Ladybugs can begin reproducing immediately with a good source of food and water. Several generations of Ladybugs may occur during one season.
Ladybugs are collected from nature instead of insectaries (it is not cost effective to raise Ladybugs in insectaries due to the amount and cost of food it would take to produce an adult Ladybug). The Ladybugs are refrigerated until sold, for in cold weather Ladybugs will go into a sleep state or dormant state. Some researchers and many users have observed immediate and substantial predation and egg-laying upon release.