Twice-stabbed lady beetle

Natural Habitat

Found primarily in forests, orchards, and gardens on trees and shrubs, particularly those infested with scale insects.

Diet & Feeding

Mainly predatory; they feed on scale insects and aphids, making them beneficial for pest control.

Behavior Patterns

They are active hunters on tree bark and leaves. They undergo a complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and often overwinter as adults in leaf litter or under bark.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: Extremely beneficial to the ecosystem and agriculture as natural pest control for scale insects. Risks: Harmless to humans, though like many ladybugs, they may reflex bleed a harmless but smelly yellow fluid if agitated.

Identified on: 3/22/2026