The Ladybird life cycle is similar in many species, the adults overwinter often in large groups in any place they can find that is dry and if possible out of the wind. Breeding generally begins in May, but is dependant on the weather, and in most cases the presence of food. Egg laying continues on into July with each female laying as many as 1 000 eggs in some species. Many of the carnivorous species lay their eggs near aphids, ensuring their young a supply of food . Eggs take about 4 days to hatch depending on temperature, ranging from 10.3 days at 15C to 1.8 days at 35C.
The larvae moult 3 times (that is they have 4 instars) and after about 3 months depending on the density of aphids they pupate. The larvae when small are often smaller than the aphids they are eating and it is not uncommon to see a large aphid carrying a small Ladybird larva around on tis back. A 7 Spot Ladybird larva will consume more than 300 aphids before it pupates.