Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773)Non-native  -  Invasive    Synonyms: Asian Lady Beetle, Halloween Lady Beetle, Harlequin Ladybird, Japanese Ladybug.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Coleoptera   >   Family Coccinellidae   >   Genus Harmonia   

Status:

Introduced from eastern Asia to control aphids and other agricultural pests and now abundant in our region. Our most frequently encountered ladybug. Often hibernates in homes and other buildings.

Description:

Extremely variable in appearance. Color ranges from orange to red. May have many to no spots. Note very squared "shoulders" of elytra.

Relationships:

Preys on aphids, mites, and scale insects. This non-native species' abundance is certainly impacting native ladybugs numbers and diversity. Host to the ectoparasite fungus Hesperomyces harmoniae.

There are 969 records in the project database.

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Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/10/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/18/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Howard Co., Maryland (4/26/2014). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/14/2014). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Howard Co., Maryland (7/24/2019). Determined by John F. Carr and James Bailey via BugGuide. Photo by Kurt Schwarz. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/30/2014). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/28/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/7/2015). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles in Washington Co., Maryland (10/25/2014). Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/9/2021). (c) Ryan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ryan Douglas. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/11/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/27/2017). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/15/2015). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/20/2023). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/1/2014). The yellow fuzz on the back of the insect is a parasitic Laboulbeniales fungus. Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/8/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Baltimore City, Maryland (5/3/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (5/1/2021). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (7/26/2022). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Howard Co., Maryland (9/28/2019). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/11/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/4/2022). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/30/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Harford Co., Maryland (10/11/2019). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/10/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle laying eggs in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/25/2014). Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle on Assateague Island in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/18/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle larvae found by students at Jemicy School in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/16/2013). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle larva in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/28/2015). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle larva in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/23/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/27/2020). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle pupa in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/17/2017). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle larva cannibalizing a pupa in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/8/2014). Photo by Brandon Woo. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle larva cannibalizing another in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/25/2014). Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles mating in Kent Co., Maryland (8/7/2021). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle eggs hatching in Woodbridge, Virginia (1/1/2000). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/27/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/4/2023). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles mating in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/3/2017). (c) richard crook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by rwcrook via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle in Maryland (5/25/2016). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle pupa in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/2/2017). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)


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MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/.