Question of the Week – Lady Beetle Pupa

This week, the question was: What is this odd-looking critter on this strawberry leaf?

This is a lady beetle pupa. A few weeks ago, in our question of the week, we saw lady beetle eggs. Since then, the eggs have hatched, the larvae have grown, and are now ready to become adults. The pupal stage is the final juvenile stage in which the larva transforms into an adult. Once pupation is finished, the lady beetle will have its familiar dome-shaped appearance with red wings and black spots. For information about the lady beetle’s life cycle, click here.