Branched spines are also visible on the pupa. This is arguably the only ladybird easily identifiable in all three forms.

Thanks guys, I figured it was Harmonia axyridis, but most of them in the guide have 4 orange spines on their backs, while this one does not.

The pattern of the abdomen becomes more orange in each larval instar. They're black at egg hatch, then have orange on the first abdominal segment in 2nd instar:


Third instar has orange dorsolateral tubercules to the 4th abdominal segment and orange central tubercules on the 1st (and usually 4th) segment:


The final instar is the one with orange dorsolateral tubercules to the 5th abdominal segment and orange central tubercules on the first, 4th, and 5th segments:


The double-branched tubercules are present in all instars - with magnification they can be seen w/in 24 hours of egg hatch. So you can always use them to positively ID H. axyridis larvae, and usually the pupa.

Thanks for the clarification Abigail!

Bristles trump spots.