Wildlife
Harlequin ladybirds were introduced to north America and mainland Europe as a biological control for aphids. However, with their populations spreading rapidly the tables have turned on these ladybirds. Their voracious apetites and the subsequent decline of native ladybird species has focused attention on them as a subject for control. Large numbers hibernate indoors and in wall cavities during cool winter weather, which doesn't help their cause.
Scientific name: Harmonia axyridis
Rank: Species
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Harlequin invasion
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home - they're not welcome and out of control.
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home - they're not welcome and out of control.
The Harlequin ladybird can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, Europe, North America, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Harlequin ladybird distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Harmonia axyridis is a large coccinellid beetle. Its colour ranges from yellow-orange to black, and the number of spots between 0 and 22. It is native to eastern Asia, but has been introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known and spreading in those regions.
It is commonly known in North America as Asian lady beetle, or Japanese ladybug, and in the United Kingdom as the Harlequin ladybird (the last because it occurs in numerous colour forms). It is also known in North America as the multicolored Asian lady beetle, and (because it invades homes in October in preparation for hibernation) as Halloween lady beetle. In Japan it is not generally distinguished from the seven-spot ladybird which is also common there.
When the species first arrived in the UK, it was labelled "the many-named ladybird", because among the names listed were: multivariate, southern, Japanese, and pumpkin ladybird.
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Garden wildlife
From badgers to butterflies and frogs to foxes, garden wildlife is both varied and surprising.
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Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Temperate grassland
Urban
Wetlands
Warning colours
Carnivorous
Adapted to flying
Hibernation
Metamorphosis
Egg layer