Lady Beetles
What are they?
Perhaps one of the most familiar of beetle families, lady beetles - often wrongly called 'ladybugs' - are common and widespread, colorful insects. They are well known for being predators of aphids and similar plant-eating insects, but some species are woodland dwellers, while others live in wetlands. Though we have a number of native species, many of these seem to be on the decline and most observations are of introduced, European or Asian species, some of which are predatory on other lady beetles.
Identification
A varied bunch of insects, most lady beetles are brightly colored in red or yellow, with varying number of black spots. Some species are mostly dark in color. The number and pattern of spots and - especially - the pattern on the thorax are important for identification.
Seven-spot Lady Beetle Coccinella septempunctata
Introduced from Europe to control aphids. A very common and variable species, typically with three spots on each wing case and one in the middle just below the thorax. But some individuals can be unspotted and the background color varies from pale orange to scarlet red.
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Spotted Lady Beetle Coleomegilla maculata
A widespread but uncommon native species. Both adults and larvae feed on aphids and other small insects, but spring pollen is also an important food for adults.
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Harlequin Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis
(Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle) Deliberately introduced from Asia for aphid control. A common and widespread species which is remarkably variable in appearance and best told by its relatively large size and broadly rounded shape. This is a classic example of mankind never learning from mistakes; introductions of non-native species are almost always detrimental to local ecosystems and, though this species does eat aphids (like most lady beetles) it has been found to be an important predator of a number of other insects, including native lady beetle species.
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Convergent Lady Beetle Hippodamia convergens
A native species that varies in the number of black spots on the wing cases. The best identification feature is the two convergent lines on the back of the thorax, that give the species its name.
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