Do ladybirds go through metamorphosis?Updated 3 months ago

Just like butterflies, ladybirds go through metamorphosis! 

• They start as a tiny egg that their parent laid in a neat row on the underside of a leaf. 
• When these eggs hatch, the ladybird larvae don't eat plant matter, but begin to hunt other insects like aphids. These larvae don't look much like their parents, ladybug larvae look like little alligators. Their spiky backs protect them from predators. As the larvae eat and grow, they shed their skin, or moult, and prepare for the last phase of their transformation. 
• After 10-15 days, ladybird larvae will transform into a pupa attaching themselves to a stem where it can be safe as it transforms into an adult ladybird. They will remain in the pupae stage and immobile for 8-10 days.
• When the adult ladybird emerges it needs to wait a little bit for its exoskeleton to harden and their spots will appear. Once it does, the adult will explore its new environment, eat some aphids, and hopefully meet a mate so it can start this whole process over again!