The Life Cycle of a Ladybug: Part 2

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

If you missed the first lesson in our The Life Cycle of a Ladybug series, check it out in the right-hand sidebar under Related Lessons.

• What did you learn about the life cycle of a ladybug?
• How do ladybugs grow and change?

Share your answers with your parent or teacher. Ladybugs start off as an egg. This egg will grow into a larva. The larva will feed on small insects and shed its skin.

• Did you remember all of this?

Excellent! You are ready to learn about the final stages of a ladybug's life cycle.

As you know, the larva of a ladybug will spend its time eating. As it grows, it will shed its skin. Once the larva is fully grown, it will start to change. This is when the pupa stage begins. The larva will have a long shrimp- or lobster-like body. It will attach its body to a leaf and it will stay very still. The larvae will stay here for a few days. During these days, the larvae will go through metamorphosis. This means its body will go through a big change. Under their skin, their body is changing. Soon, it will come out of the pupa and emerge as something new.

• What do you think it will come out of the pupa as?

Below, you can see different ladybug pupa on a leaf:

The last stage of a ladybug’s life cycle is the adult ladybug stage. A beautiful ladybug will come out of the pupa. When it first comes out, its color will be pale and its shell will be soft. After a couple of hours have gone by, the ladybug’s shell will become brighter and harder. It will look just like a ladybug! This ladybug will search for food and a mate. Once it finds a mate, the life cycle will start all over again when an adult ladybug lays ladybug eggs beneath a leaf. Below, you can see pictures of a ladybug that has fully grown up:

Tell your parent or teacher about the final two stages of a ladybug's life cycle and what happens during these stages.

After sharing, move on to the Got It? section to watch a video about the end of a ladybug’s life cycle.