They are often laid on end in small masses. The eggs of others are scale-like and flat on the twigs of the plants. From the eggs hatch larvae, small insects that resemble tiny, short-snouted alligators with six legs. Some lady beetles have larvae covered with a fluffy white secretion which makes the insect look like a mealybug. The next stage is the pupa.
Pupae are about the size of the adults, but the legs and antennae are closely pressed to the body.
Also, the wing buds wrap around the body. The pupae are usually anchored to the substrate at the rear. Consequently, these pupae are squashed or scraped off and destroyed. Each lady beetle larva eats many aphids and other pests, and each lady beetle lays many eggs which would hatch into many more larvae. Biology Lady beetles are found throughout the United States.