1. Insect Lore Ladybug Activities and Crafts Online
Visit us at InsectLore.com to find helpful instructional videos, our Ladybug
Larvae Quick Guide, and answers to common questions. See our Pinterest
Boards at pinterest.com/insectlore to find ladybug games, lessons, crafts,
FAQs, and more!
These instructions are for Original Ladybug Land®
with Live Larvae and Original Ladybug Land® with Voucher.
If you have purchased a ladybug kit with a Voucher,
Steps 2, 3 and 4 are for you.
If you have purchased a ladybug kit with live larvae,
please skip ahead to Step 5.
2. Plan Your Ladybug Metamorphosis Timeline
Before redeeming the voucher for your ladybug larvae, be sure you are ready
to take care of them. You’ll need to watch over your ladybug larvae, care for
them responsibly, and observe their exciting changes on a daily basis! That’s
why planning is important. Your project will take approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
• Plan for any school breaks, holidays, or extended weekends that
may interrupt the project.
• Keep in mind you will release your ladybugs within 3 weeks after
you receive them. Your larvae will develop more quickly in warmer
environments, so take your local weather temperatures into
consideration when ordering!
• Remember, you must be available to open the package containing
your ladybug larvae immediately upon receipt. Your ladybug larvae
will not survive in a hot mailbox or warehouse.
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3. Visit Insect Lore.com to Redeem Your Voucher
When you are ready to order your ladybug larvae, it is best to redeem your
voucher online. See your voucher for details.
• Order your ladybug larvae when it is warm enough in your area.
Ensure that daytime temperatures will be at least 55 degrees
Fahrenheit upon release.
• Keep your voucher number in a safe place so you can refer to it
if you contact Insect Lore about your shipment.
• Once your order is received, it takes 1 or 2 business days to process,
and then about 1 to 3 business days in transit. Insect Lore will email
you a tracking number so you can track your order.
• Please note that in order to ensure your ladybug larvae’s survival,
shipping may be delayed if temperatures are extreme.
• Live insects are non-returnable, but every live ladybug larvae order
guarantees that 5 ladybug larvae will develop into friendly adult
ladybugs. If your order does not fulfill this guarantee, please contact
Insect Lore within 30 days of receipt of your ladybug larvae.
4. Be Prepared to Receive Your Ladybug Larvae
Please track your package so you know when your ladybug larvae are scheduled to arrive. Simply visit InsectLore.com, click on “My Account” at the bottom
of the page, and fill in the required fields.
• Do not leave your ladybug larvae unattended in
a mailbox – especially during extreme temperatures.
• Remove the ladybug larvae from the shipping box
as soon as possible.
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5. Your Ladybug Larvae Have Arrived!
The tube that contains your ladybug larvae also includes folded paper strips
and ladybug food. You’ll have more than enough food for the larvae to completely develop through pupae and into adult ladybugs.
• Remove the magnification cap from the Original Ladybug Land®.
Use the pipette to place a few drops of water on the felt watering
sponge in the middle of the crater. You’ll want to keep the sponge
moist throughout the ladybug life cycle, as these little critters love
a humid home! If you see standing water on the sponge, you’ve
added too much!
• Gently shake all the contents of the tube (ladybug larvae, food,
and strips of paper) into your ladybug habitat. If some of the
larvae cling to the tube, give the tube a gentle tap or two with
your fingers to dislodge them. Replace the magnification cap.
• Do not place your Original Ladybug Land® in direct sunlight, on a
windowsill, or in a car where it can overheat. It is best to maintain
a consistent room temperature of 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Watch Them Grow And Change
Ladybug larvae grow quickly and constantly search for food, shedding their
skins (or molting) several times as they grow. And they’ll grow quickly! They
must eat a lot to store energy for the incredible change they will experience.
Don’t worry, they have plenty of food in the Original Ladybug Land®!
• Within 7 to 10 days, your ladybug larvae will attach themselves to the
floor and inside walls of the Original Ladybug Land® dome to begin
the “pupal” stage of their lives. They’ll curl up their bodies and spend
a few days protected by an outer covering while they change shape
within. The pupa may appear inactive, but many changes are taking
place inside!
• After another 7 to 10 days, adult ladybugs will emerge from the
pupae. At first, the adults will appear soft and pale, but after a few
hours their exoskeletons will harden and their colors will brighten.
It takes about 12 hours for their trademark spots to appear!
EGGS
LARVA
PUPA
ADULT
Keep Your Very Own Ladybug Journal
Is That What Ladybug Larvae Look Like?
When your ladybug larvae arrive, they don’t look like ladybugs
at all! The larvae actually resemble tiny alligators!
You will see many changes as your ladybug larvae grow. Observe, measure
and record the daily changes in your ladybug larvae’s growth and behavior.
Here are some sample investigations:
The ladybug larvae in your Original Ladybug Land® start their lives as
tiny eggs. The eggs are yellow or orange and are shaped like capsules.
Ladybugs lay their eggs on the underside of leaves, in groups of 10 to 15,
usually near a tasty food source like aphids or mites! One single ladybug can
lay up to 50 eggs in one day and up to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime!
• What does a ladybug larva look like?
• How many ladybug larvae are there?
• What happened when you placed your ladybug larvae in the habitat?
• Do the larvae prefer certain areas in the habitat?
• How many legs does a ladybug larva have?
• How does a ladybug larva change?
• How long are the larval and pupal stages?
• What happens when the ladybug emerges from the pupa?
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7. Feed and Observe Your Ladybugs
Once your ladybug larvae have completed their transformation into adult
ladybugs, they will be ready to eat! Soak one or two raisins in water for about
5 minutes, dry them on a paper towel, cut them in half and drop them into your
Original Ladybug Land®. This should keep your ladybugs fed for about a week.
Once the raisins disappear, simply replace them!
• Avoid overwatering your ladybugs; they could drown in the standing
water. If the watering pad is too moist, skip a day of watering.
• If you see condensation or water droplets form on the sides of the
Original Ladybug Land®, do not add any water until the condensation
disappears. Ladybugs don’t need a lot of water to quench their thirst!
• Do not place the raisins on the watering sponge in the crater. If the
8. Set them Free!
We recommend that you release your ladybugs 3 to 4 days after they have
emerged from their pupae. This should give you enough time to feed and
observe your new friends.
• Make sure daytime temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit
before releasing.
• When its time to release your ladybugs, simply take the habitat
outside, remove the dome and let your ladybugs fly away into the
great outdoors!
Once you have released your ladybugs, the adventure doesn’t end there! Your
ladybugs will become protectors as they feed on destructive garden pests like
mites and aphids!
raisins become moldy, be sure to remove them and replace with fresh
raisins.
9. Wash Your Habitat
Fascinating Ladybug Facts
• The Pink Spotted Ladybug’s scientific name is Coleomegilla maculata.
• There are over 5,000 different species of ladybugs.
• The ladybug is one of the most common beneficial insects.
• Ladybugs will eat soft-bodied insects like aphids, mites, scale
and tiny caterpillars, and can eat up to 5,000 aphids in their lifetime.
• Ladybugs are found on every continent except Antarctica.
• Ladybugs can be white, yellow, pink, orange, red, and black.
Your Original Ladybug Land® habitat is easy to clean and store away until
your next project. Simply place a drop of mild soap into a basin of water and
swish your habitat in the soapy water. Rinse the habitat thoroughly and dry.
Now you’re ready for more ladybug friends!
10. Be a Social Butterfly!
Your ladybug experience is important to us! Please share your stories,
reviews and images with us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and
Instagram - or at InsectLore.com!
• Once ladybugs emerge from their pupas,
it takes about 12 hours for their spots to appear.
• Some ladybug species have no spots at all!
• Ladybugs secrete an odor to ward off predators.
• Ladybugs have a colorful hard shell (elytra) that protects their wings and
serves as a warning to predators. The wings are hidden under the elytra.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hold a ladybug?
Sure! Just be careful when opening the Original Ladybug Land®.
You don’t want any escapees!
What are the spots I see on the inside of the dome?
This is a sticky, bitter-tasting fluid that ladybugs naturally exude.
It helps to discourage predators.
How fast can a ladybug fly?
A ladybug beats its wings 85 times per second and can fly 15 miles per hour.
I see no air holes in the Original Ladybug Land® dome.
Can my insects breathe?
Yes! The chamber contains more than enough air – in human terms,
it’s a football stadium’s amount of air for 15 - 20 people!
Are ladybugs beneficial insects?
Yes! Gardeners love ladybugs because they eat plant pests like aphids,
white flies, mites and scale insects.
Do ladybugs taste bad?
Yes! Ladybugs excrete a substance that tastes terrible to birds and other
predators. The taste is so bad it can even make a bird sick!
How can I tell if a ladybug is male or female?
It’s almost impossible to tell them apart, but females are usually bigger
than males.
Can I reuse my Original Ladybug Land®?
Of course! Refill kits of Ladybug Larvae are available on our website at
InsectLore.com. You can also use the Original Ladybug Land® habitat to
house other insects – just be sure to release them after a few hours of
fascinating observation and study!
PO Box 1535 Shafter, CA 93263
InsectLore.com