The total process takes about three weeks. Protection Ladybugs use their bright orange or red exterior to warn birds to stay away. The bird will learn that a red or black exterior usually indicates a sting or bad taste. Ladybugs have a bad taste instead of a sting. They also send off a foul odor from their legs.
Ladybugs also have a tendency to play dead.
Most predators refuse to eat an insect if it doesn't move. No matter if the ladybug is a larvae or an adult it mostly consumes aphids. They also eat small insects, mealybugs, spider mites, and eggs. Some ladybugs also feed on plants. A larvae can eat up to 400 aphids over this entire stage.