How to Recognize Lady Bug Larvae in Your Garden
Do you have lady beetles, also known as “lady bugs” in your garden? Lady beetles are a great biological method to help control pests such as aphids, scales, mites and other pest insects. They are one among many different beneficial insects that are great for the garden, such as praying mantis, lace-wing flies, etc. But did you know that lady beetles also go through a complete metamorphosis like a butterfly?
Many beetles look different as larvae than they do in their final beetle form. Lady beetles go from an egg, to four different larval stages by molting, to cocoon (pupae), and then emerge in its final form we all know. Lady beetles have chewing mouth-parts in both their larvae and beetle stages, and will eat available pest insects throughout their life cycle. The larva stage was definitely a shock for me. I would have assumed it was an invasion of a different pest altogether and might have accidently treated them with pesticide.
You can promote these beneficial insects by planting dill, alyssum, and coriander in your garden. You can also control ant populations to promote these beneficial insects. Some ants act as protectors to the aphids, and utilize their honeydew.
These "shepherd ants" can drive off and fight lady beetles in the area. Also, you would want to avoid using any insecticides in the areas where you are promoting the lady beetle population. If you give it time, they will eradicate the problem naturally.
According to Colorado State University Extension, there are several different lady beetle species in the Colorado area; including Sevenspotted lady beetle, Twospotted lady beetle, Convergent lady beetle, Pink lady beetle, Multicolored Asian lady beetle, and the Mexican bean beetle.
My backyard was a breeding ground for the Multicolored Asian lady beetle, based on other pictures of the larva stage.
I had an outbreak of aphids on a peach tree last year, and it became a lady beetle breeding ground. I had my own private natural observatory. Here are some pictures I took from my backyard.
Lady Beetle Fact Sheet 5.594
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/lady-beetles-5-594/