Interesting facts about reproduction and copulation

The ladybug life

A ladybug's life is divided into the following stages:

• egg
• larva
• Pupation
• Imago (adult beetle)

One generation is produced every year. As an imago, a ladybug lives for one, sometimes two years.

Mating and larval development in the natural habitat

The annual cycle of ladybirds begins relatively early, namely in late winter. As soon as they are out of the Hibernation wake up, the beetles start looking for a partner. If a couple comes together, copulation also occurs, i.e. mating, which can take a long time. Depending on the condition of the beetles and depending on the environmental conditions, a couple needs between half an hour and a full 18 hours! The male sits on the female from behind and holds it tightly.

A female can be mated by up to 20 different males. Usually it is fertilized after mating and can lay eggs. It produces up to 400 of these, which it stores in small groups, preferably on the underside of the leaves or on

Tree bark. However, some species also lay the eggs individually.

The larvae hatch after 5-8 days and begin a development period of one to two months. The duration depends on the ambient temperature, the humidity and the food available. Towards the end, the larvae pupate in a mummy pupa, in which they develop into a finished beetle within about a week and a half.

This is how you promote reproduction

If you want to promote ladybugs in the garden, this is a good idea. So that the lucky pest killers reproduce well, it is best to create favorable winter conditions for them. Because after the winter break, the still weakened beetles don't want to spend a long time looking for a romantic partner, but want to get started as soon as possible. Piles of leaves left lying around, natural stone walls or insect hotels can be conducive to this.

In general, a natural, species-rich and not too tidy garden design is also beneficial. This is where the beetles find more food and shelter.

You can also specifically multiply ladybugs in your own vivarium. You can find detailed instructions here.