Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle* (Harmonia axyridis), is a common ladybug that can become a household nuisance each fall in cold climates–in New England, for example–when adults begin seeking out warm locations to spend the winter. It is inherently a beneficial insect, and one which has frequently been deliberately released in the U.S. (beginning as long ago as 1916) for the purpose of controlling harmful plant pests such as aphids, mites, scale insects, etc. They can pose a legitimate nuisance, though, when confronted with large numbers of them indoors, and their secretions can stain furniture, curtains, blankets, rugs, etc. They do not breed, lay eggs, or feed inside the home, however, and they are not structurally-damaging.
As the name suggests, the Multicolored Asian lady beetle exhibits a great many color forms. However, outside its native area of eastern Asia, one finds them primarily showing only one of three basic color types: red or orange with black spots, black with four red spots, and black with two red spots. The form with anywhere from zero to 19 spots–known as the succinea form—is the most common form that we have here in Maine. They have reddish-brown legs and are noticeably brown on the underside of the abdomen.
Three similar species are the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) whose wing covers are spotted in a 1-4-2 pattern, the Two-spotted Lady Beetle (Adalia bipunctata) with orange wing coverings and just a single black spot apiece, and the Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens), which has 13 spots at most and white lines that ‘converge’ behind the head.
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- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle — ID Tip: The large, black ‘W’ pattern that can be seen just behind the head is a handy way of identifying the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle from other types of ladybugs.
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- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (adults feed on aphids, thrips, mites, scale insects and other soft-bodied arthropods)
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- Group of Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (adults move indoors in search of warm places to spend the winter)
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- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
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- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle on a rose leaf
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- Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) (voracious aphid predator; used commercially in biological control programs)
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- Two-spotted Lady Beetles (aphid predators) (Adalia bipunctata)
Additional Information and Photos:
- Lady Beetles in Homes [pdf] (Cornell)
- Lady Beetles (University of Kentucky)
- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle*
- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (USDA)
- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Ladybug) (Penn State)
- Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Cornell)
- Life Cycle (Collage of Photos) (Wikipedia)
- Adult Pattern Variations (Photo) (Wikipedia)
- Two other/similar species:
- Two-spotted Lady Beetle (BugGuide.net)
- Convergent Lady Beetle (BugGuide.net)
*The Multicolored Asian lady beetle goes by a long list of other names as well: Multivariate Lady Beetle, Southern Lady Beetle, Japanese Lady Beetle, Asian Lady Beetle, Halloween Lady Beetle [so named because the adults begin moving indoors typically in October], Harlequin Ladybird Beetle, Pumpkin Ladybird Beetle, and Pumpkin Ladybug.