Ladybirds have 6 leg and are classified as insects.

They belong to the order of Coleoptera and the family of Coccinellidae. Like all other coleoptera, their front wings (elytra) are rather rigid and form a shell that protects the membranous wings thsi enable them to fly.

In a single species, the patterns can be very different, especially the Adalia bipunctata ladybird, which can be red with black spots or black with red spots. And, contrary to what you may have thought, the number of spots does not correspond to the insect's age.

Did you know that ladybirds begin their lives as larve and through a process called metamorphosis, transform into beautiful adult ladybirds.

The ladybird passes through 4 stages:
1. the tiny eggs, that hatch after 5 days
2. The larvae, that devour aphids, eat and growing for 10 to 15 days, shedding their skin 3 times
3. The immobile pupae, which transform in 6 to 8 days
4. The adults, which can lay eggs after 1 to 3 weeks (weather permitting)

The development cycle of a generation lasts one year with a few exceptions, as for example the Adalia bipunctata, which has two generations a year.

The egg
Generally the eggs are laid in groups, in the spring or early summer. They are most often elongated, oval and light yellow to bright orange in colour. The quantity laid varies according to the species. In the Adalia bipunctata, it varies from laying 20 to 50 eggs a day, over a two week period. They can be found on leaves or branches of plants near to aphid-infested areas.

The larvae stage
When they are born, the larvae eat their shells and neighbouring eggs that have not yet hatched. Then, they actively search for aphids. They do this by touch rather than sight, as the larvae are blind. When they shed their skin, they attach themselves to a surface and remain immobile for several hours or up to one day.

The pupae stage
Now completely inmobile, within the hard, dry chrisalidas, the future ladybird is transforming into a ladybird. After 6-8 days, they shake themselves free of the shell and emerge completely yellow, without spots. It looks for a safe, open space to rest and allow its elytra to harden. After several hours, the spots magically appear. At this stage, in the wild, only 20% of young adults survive.

The World Alive Ladybird kit includes:

·         Habitat

·         Tweezers

·         Magnifier

·         Instruction

·         An activity book plus an order form to buy your live ladybird larvae.