After four or five days, the eggs hatch into larvae that look like tiny spiky accordions with legs. The larvae spend four or five weeks eating aphids, shedding their skins three times before turning into pupae, which resemble little lobsters without legs or claws. About 10 days later, pupae squeeze out of their skins and emerge as lady bugs. It takes about 24 hours for lady bugs to get their bright spots. Then they roam around for a few weeks eating aphids before finding a place to sleep for the winter.