
Community identification
Pink-spotted Lady Beetle
Coleomegilla maculata
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera; Family: Coccinellidae
- Size
- 5 to 6 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found in agricultural fields, gardens, and grassy areas across North and South America.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; feeds on aphids, mites, and insect eggs, but notably consumes up to 50% pollen (especially from corn, dandelion, and clover).
Behavior Patterns
Active during the day; adults overwinter in large aggregations under leaf litter or stones to survive cold temperatures.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to the ecosystem and agriculture as a natural predator of many crop pests; poses no significant risk to humans.