Multicolored Asian lady beetle

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Published on May 24, 2012

Here's another ladybird video on AnimalKingdom5000, this time it's the harlequin ladybird. The harlequin ladybird is originally native to eastern Asia, but was introduced into other parts of the world mainly to control aphid populations. This ladybird was seen in the United Kingdom in 2004. The harlequin ladybird has a dome-shaped body with smooth wing coverings, white markings on its pronotum (typically defining an "M"- or "W"-shaped black area), and usually brown or reddish legs. It occurs in three main colour forms: red or orange with black spots (known as form succinea); black with four red spots (form spectabilis); and black with two red spots (form conspicua). However, numerous intermediate and divergent forms have also been recorded. The number of spots can vary from 0-22 on this species. The harlequin ladybird has the ability to live in diverse habitats. It is most commonly found on deciduous trees, such as Willow, Sycamore and Maple, and on low growing plants such as Nettles. Harlequin Ladybirds feed most commonly on aphids, but have a wide food range, also feeding on scale insects, adelgids, the eggs and larvae of butterflies and moths, many other small insects, including other ladybirds, pollen, nectar, and sugary fluids, including honeydew and the juice from ripe fruits. The harlequin ladybird is very widespread in the United Kingdom has the potential to wipe out some of the native ladybird species in the country.

Other Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis
Length: 7-8 mm
Distribution: Originally from China, Taiwan, Japan, Mongolia & Russia; introduced into the USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland & the United Kingdom.
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated

All facts and information are based on what I've researched on the internet or read about in books or heard from other animal experts when I travel to other different countries around the world.

Uploaded on Jun 21, 2011

Harmonia axyiridis alimentándose de un áfido Acyrthosiphon pisum.
Fotografo: Bernardo Segura.

Uploaded on Jul 3, 2011

Preparing for metamorphosis to pupa, and then to adult. Photographed at Nisswa, Minnesota (01 July 2011). Thank you to Abigail Parker (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity of this specimen and for explaining its postural behavior.

Published on Jun 1, 2013

The Harlequin or Multivariegate Ladybird Harmonia axyridis, a rather attractive (but potentially very damaging) alien ladybird species, has now been recorded at numerous sites throughout much of the UK. These beetles are Asian in origin and they have been artificially introduced to the USA and several European countries as a form of biological pest control. It would appear that the consequences of earlier artificial introductions of alien species have either never been learned, poorly researched, or otherwise rashly dismissed by those responsible. In the case of the Harlequin Ladybird there are doubtless sophisticated naturally occurring population control factors (e.g. predators, parasites, fungal, bacterial or viral diseases, prey species population cycles) which would keep the numbers in check in their own habitat. However, these same factors are not (yet) operational in the UK. It is highly likely that the parents of the first UK-bred generations arrived by emigration from the northern coast of Belgium - although the arrival of some beetles in produce cannot be ruled out. The Harlequin adults and pupae are both very variable and two of the recognised colour forms (a typical 19-spot 'succinea' female and a four-spotted 'spectabilis' male) have been illustrated here. The white spots on the sides of the pronotum are very obvious in all variant adults and the larvae and pre-pupae are very easy to separate from all of the native British species as they have distinctive orange markings. Several stages of the life-history may be observed at the same time and this species may be capable of producing at least three broods during a single season if conditions are favourable. This insect is predatory on the same prey items (aphids, etc.) as most of the native British ladybird species, but unfortunately also on those useful insects which naturally control garden and crop pests themselves, namely lacewings, hoverfly larvae and other ladybirds, particularly the Two-spot Adalia bipunctata judging from the subsequent population crash of this formerly abundant insect. Now that Harlequin Ladybirds have become numerous the natural balance between these native predator and prey species could be irreparably damaged.

Uploaded on Sep 11, 2011

Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (11 September 2011).