As Arp says, two different processes but shared by all flying insects.
The expansion of the wings by pumping them full of haemolymph (insect blood) has to be done very rapidly or the wings harden into their folded position and become useless.
The colouration of the elytra (NB: black/white pronotal patterns and the colours of legs &c usually occurs within the pupa) develops gradually at the same time as the elytra harden. For the common red ladybirds colour development is over in 24-48 hours although the red colour of e.g. the 2-spot continues throughout the rest of their lives. You'd probably only recognise this if you get a young and an old beetle together in the spring.
Some species, however, are notoriously slow to develop colours - especially the 10-spot
Adalia secempunctata which commonly only gains a wishy-washy orange colour and in some forms this stays yellow. It's a complex business! Some species change colour seriously while overwintering.
In NW Europe we have three yellow species and five orange-brown ones - there are plenty more elsewhere in the world ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pudding4brains
As for the colour (Paul correct me if I'm wrong!): Most ladybirds emerge very pale/yellowish and start putting on colour immediately (as well as swiftly finding a spot to expand/inflate the wings). In many species the colouring is "mostly" complete after a few hours or a few days. Some species however will only develop a basic colour level fairly quickly and then take notably longer to reach their full colour-intensity (up to a year?!).
There are however a few species that have "yellow" colour varieties - either with or without spots - so chances are you would have seen some of those between the bulk of the "usual" beetles (I'm assuming the "prototype" would haven been red with black dots where you live too).
Most notable/usual species that is "yellow" (although with black spots) would be Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata, but others have yellowish versions too, possibly even without spots (such as yellow Har.axy. succineas with little or no spots). Not familiar with the North-American fauna though
|