Ladybug adults overwinter, large groups hibernating in places like protected buildings, under rocks or bark, or beneath dried leaves or garden litter. Once it s warm enough in the spring the ladybugs emerge from their shelters and immediately go in search of prey and good egg laying sites. Eggs are always left in close proximity to an aphid colony to assure that the larvae have adequate food once they hatch. Once the young hatch they will attack the aphids and consume as many as 400 per day. The larvae go into pupae stage after 3 weeks and 2-5 days later an adult ladybug appears.
Ladybugs prefer surroundings with high humidity or continuous access to water droplets.
Spacing your plants closer together and more frequent watering cycles are good ways to guarantee higher humidity. You might even want to try an artificial substitute like hummingbird food. Once disturbed there s a chance they might be attacked by predators or parasites. Vegetable and grain crops, legumes like beans and peas, strawberries, some fruit tree varieties, all benefit if a colony of ladybugs decide to move in and feed on aphids and other harmful insect pests. So remember, if you see a brightly-colored, busy little ladybug in your garden, then ask her to stay.