Species Olla v-nigrum - Ashy Gray Lady Beetle

Ash Gray Ladybird Beetle

Ashy Gray Ladybug

Ash Gray Ladybug

Only North American species of the genus

4-6mm

Polished dorsal surface, and lateral margin of elytron feebly explanate (flared, "helmet-shaped").

Gray with black spots, or black with two red sopts.

"This species has two basic color variants that are strikingly different and I have seen little evidence of intergradation between the variants."(1)

All of US except Maine and majority of Washington and Oregon. Barely cross the Canadian border west of the Great Lakes to the western Rockies.(1)

Dark form can be confused with Chilocorus sp, which have elytra more explanate (appearing more flared) and are a different shape (more "A-frame" basally). Chilocorus sp. never have white markings on head or pronotum.

Both pale and dark forms might be confused with similar forms of Harmonia axyridis, but specific coloration, markings, and shape separate the two. Especially note that O. v-nigrum's spots tend to appear triangular, always with the side sloping away from the suture (where the wings meet) basally. H. axyridis' spots tend to be more of a rounded square.

University of Florida's Featured Creatures has images and info.

University of Arizona has images and some info as well.

University of Georgia's Forestry Images archive, has photos as well.