If you give the plants a spray so the ladybugs can get a drink ,they will have babies. they start off as larva,but they eat bugs too.I had a lot of fun last year growing lady bugs.order them direct .They get there 3 days later and they are all alive. I have gotten them from stores and they were all dead.
oh btw i also read on how you can easily store the ladybugs for up to 3 months with barely any casualties.
Basically you need to add some water every couple weeks, or else they dry out in a fridge.
The place down the street said they will have ladybugs soon too for 8 bucks a pack, the pack should be enough were i can make them last for 3 months or if they breed enough they will last all year till winter i suppose.
Hopefully my little mantis friends come back, not that you can see them though...