
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to control agricultural pests, such as aphids and scale insects, especially for crops of pecans and apples. from Asia in the latter half of the 1900s by the U.S. This Ladybug species was purposely introduced into the U.S. How the Asian Lady Beetle Was Introduced to the United States Some also have dark black spots, but on others, the spots are very light or nonexistent. But if you look closely, you will see the Asian Lady Beetle has a white marking behind its head in the openings of what looks like a black M. Spotting the Difference Between Good and Bad LadybugsĪt a quick glance, it can be hard to tell the difference between the Asian ladybug and beneficial Ladybugs, partly because the color of the Asian species can vary from light tan or orange to bright red. Unlike its docile relative, this orange Ladybug can be a true pest. Since then, the Asian Lady Beetle has spread throughout the US and Canada, and has been a prominent factor in controlling aphid populations. This species was introduced to North America in an attempt to control the spread of aphids. Ladybugs are considered to be beneficial insects because they feed on plant pests and live outdoors all year round.Īlthough most Ladybugs are harmless and good for the environment, the Asian Lady Beetle- Coccinellidae harmonia axyridis– is somewhat of an exception. The most widespread Lady Bug, Coccinellidae, and specifically Coccinellidae Coccinella septempunctata, has become so common– that now– the word Ladybug applies to a whole family of beetles (Coccinellidae) or Ladybugs, not just Coccinella septempunctata.


Ladybugs are not bugs (Hemiptera) they are actually beetles (Coleoptera). These days, the word Ladybug applies to a whole family of beetles, Coccinellidae or Ladybugs, not just Coccinella septempunctata. This species was introduced in the US to combat plant pests as far back as 1916, and became known here as the Ladybug. As knowledge about insects increased, the name became extended to all its relatives, members of the beetle family Coccinellidae. Ladybird, named so after the Virgin Mary, is a name that has been used in England for more than 600 years for the European beetle. What’s not to love about ladybugs? They eat crop-destroying pests, and are said to bring good luck.
