The larvae look like little black alligators. They may have a red spot on their back or may be yellow with black or white spots. Newly hatched larvae start consuming prey, which includes aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and the eggs of other insects, within a few hours of hatching. They continue to eat until their skin no longer fits anymore and they have to molt into a larger, looser skin. The larvae experience five molts, which takes approximately 12 days, before the final pupal stage.
The pupa turns into a very hard chrysalis much like a butterfly chrysalis. Some ladybug larva attach themselves to an adjacent plant to pupate while others do not. Once the pupal skin hardens the larvae go through a metamorphosis, similar to that of butterflies, and then emerge as a brightly colored adult ladybug. The pupal stage generally takes about three days. When the adult ladybug emerges it is soft and pale, but within hours the shell (elytra) will harden and become brightly colored.