Don't be afraid, unless you're an aphid. These little larvae are on the side of good and fight the evildoers in the garden. They may look creepy at first but these little lady beetle larvae are some of the best friends you could have. They eat even more than the adults do! Lady beetles love aphids as well as mites and other small insects but if aphids aren't in stock they will be happy with whatever else is on the shelf including the eggs of other beetles and moths.According to Cornell this is what makes them valuable:
Because of their ability to survive on other prey when aphids are in short supply, lady beetles are particularly valuable natural enemies.
It's important to recognize these that these little bugs are allies in the garden and not immediately consider all bugs as pests. At first glace you might think they resemble other beetle larvae like the leaf beetle larvae I showed earlier in the week. But if you inspect closely you can see some differences in coloration. You also won't notice leaf damage from the lady beetles but you may see damage from their prey. If you happen to see lady beetle larvae go easy on sprays as they will take care of them too. Move them to safer spots before you spray or just don't spray at all and they will do the job for you! Always remember that "The enemy of my enemy is my friend!"