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Species Harmonia axyridis - Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Cucujoidea (Flower, Flat Bark and Ladybird Beetles)
Family Coccinellidae (Lady Beetles)
Subfamily Coccinellinae
Genus Harmonia
Species axyridis (Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle)
Other Common Names "The many-named ladybird! Multicoloured (multicolored), multivariate, southern, Japanese, Asian, Halloween, harlequin or pumpkin ladybird (ladybug, ladybeetle); la coccinelle asiatique, veelkeurig Aziatisch lieveheersbeestje, Asiatischer Marienkafer" from Paul Mabbott's Ladybird Survey
M.A.L.B. - especially in the pest control trade Identification The adult is highly variable in color and pattern. In the east, the elytra (hard shiny wing cases) range from orange to red, with many to no black spots. In the west, some individuals are black with two large red patches (such as this one from British Columbia), and some are black with several large orange spots (such as this one from California). Several other variations are shown here. The only consistent marking is a strip of color along the edge of the pronotum (between the head and the wings) but the color of that strip can vary from white to red. In the east, the pronotum is usually white with four black spots, which range from small spots to large patches that may blend together to look like a black M (or W).
An excellent plate showning most of the color variants.
A selection of the color variants posted in BugGuide:
typical form  spotless form 
heavy spots  venter 
red on black  yellow on black 
melo - red "C" spot  yellow "C" spot 
melo - single spot  and  and in yellow 
The gender of adults can be determined by close examination of the ventral surface of the last abdominal segment. (See this page for details.)
The larva looks somewhat like a tiny alligator, with mostly black coloration, orange markings (including a broad orange stripe along each side) and double-branched spines. Very few people encountering one for the first time would recognize it as a young "ladybug." It grows to be larger than the eventual adult size.
The pupa is an elongated dome shape, usually found attached to a leaf, with the spiky remains of the last larval skin usually clinging to one end. The branched spines of this skin are usually visible.
larva .........................pupa..........................adult
Range throughout much of United States and southern Canada
native to eastern Asia from the Altai Mountains to the east coast and Japan Food Aphids, thrips, mites, scale insects, and eggs of butterflies and moths. Life Cycle usually two generations per year in Asia and Europe, but up to five generations have been observed; larvae pass through four instars; adults typically live 30-90 days depending on temperature, but some individuals may live up to 3 years.
Remarks First introduced to North America (for biological control of aphids) in California in 1916, and again in California in 1964 and 1965. Also introduced in Washington state from 1978–1982, and in Nova Scotia, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina from 1978–1981 [Gordon, 1985]. Despite the numerous intentional releases, the species did not become established until 1988 in Louisiana [Chapin and Broux, 1991]. Thereafter, it spread rapidly thoughout most of United States, reaching Canada in 1994.
Although not native to this country, this species is widely sold for aphid control throughout the US, and has become very well-established (to the point of becoming a nuisance). The stage that eats the most aphids is the larva.
Adult beetles seek sheltered places to hibernate for the winter, and often invade homes in large numbers for that purpose. The best way to prevent this is to find and seal the cracks by which they gain entry.
When threatened, ladybird beetles in general, and this one in particular, exude a foul-smelling and -tasting liquid from their leg joints. See Also Two-spotted Lady Beetle (Adalia bipunctata) can appear similar to the typical forms, including both pronotal markings and elytra. The center of Adalia's "face" is black, however, while H. axyridis' is white. (Both photos below are A. bipunctata.)
see  , and 
Olla v-nigrum can also appear similar to the dark forms. On Olla v-n, note the angled anterior edge of the elytra spot, and the sharper deliniation of the pale pronotal margin  . Print References Chapin, J.B., and V.A. Broux. 1991. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) the third species of the genus to be found in the United States (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 93: 630-635.
Gordon, R.D. 1985. The Coleoptera (Coccinellidae) of America north of Mexico. Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 93: 1–912. Internet References J. Insect Sci. Extensive information on: life history, population dynamics, prey searching, natural enemies, biological control, etc.
H. axyridis in Britain Information on its release and invasion of the US and Europe.
live adult image of mating pair (Steve Marshall, U. of Guelph, Ontario)
presence in Manitoba; PDF doc and introduction to US and Canada (I.L. Wise et al, Agriculture Canada)
Penn State University How to prevent Asian ladybeetle infestations.
Ohio State University Extension How to determine sex of H. axyridis.
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