
Community identification
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Larva)
Harmonia axyridis
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera: Coccinellidae
- Size
- Larvae grow to approximately 7-10 mm (0.3-0.4 inches) in length before pupating.
Natural Habitat
Found on a wide variety of plants, including ornamental garden plants, trees, and agricultural crops, especially where aphids are present.
Diet & Feeding
Highly predatory; they primarily eat aphids, but also consume scale insects, psyllids, and other soft-bodied insect pests.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae are active hunters that move quickly across leaves in search of prey. They undergo four instars before forming a pupa and emerging as adult beetles.
Risks & Benefits
Extremely beneficial to ecosystems and gardens as a natural pest control for aphids. They do not pose a risk to humans in this stage, though adults can be a nuisance when they overwinter in homes.