Bug FAQAsian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Coccinellidae
Also called: Harlequin Ladybird Beetle, Harlequin Ladybird, Multicoloured Asian Ladybird
Source: extension.msstate.edu, University of Minnesota Extension, Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu
Asian lady beetles are 5.5-8.5 mm long and come in many colour forms, often orange-red with black spots or black with red markings. In autumn they seek warm places to overwinter, often entering homes where they gather in large groups and may emit a foul-smelling yellow fluid. They bite only a mild pinch and are not a health threat, but their odor and stains can be a nuisance indoors.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, University of Minnesota Extension, extension.msstate.edu
How to recognize it
The common orange-red form has up to 22 black spots, while other forms are black with two or four red markings. Both adults and larvae have a distinctive “M” marking on the head. Larvae look like small, spiny, black-orange alligators.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, extension.msstate.edu
Size
Adults measure between 5.5 and 8.5 mm (about a quarter of an inch).
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Large groups can gather inside homes, especially in attics, wall voids, and behind trim, causing odor and stains when disturbed or crushed. They do not reproduce indoors but may become active on warm fall or winter days.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, University of Minnesota Extension
Does it bite or sting?
If provoked they may give a small pinch-type bite. When disturbed they release a foul-smelling yellow fluid.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, University of Minnesota Extension
How to get rid of it
Seal cracks and crevices to keep them from entering the building. Vacuum up beetles and discard them far from the house. A professional may apply a perimeter insecticide if infestations recur.
Source: pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, University of Minnesota Extension
Where it lives
They are often seen in North America in the fall, entering houses to overwinter, especially in October. They like sunny spots because the heat wakes them even on cold winter days.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They mainly eat aphids and other small plant-sap sucking insects. They also feed on fruits such as grapes and raspberries.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Eggs are yellow when laid and turn black a day before hatching. Newly hatched larvae are about 1.2 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They become noticeable in North America during autumn as they look for places to overwinter.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
They are native to eastern Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
In the U.S. they can be confused with smaller native lady beetles such as the two-spotted lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata) or convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens). The scientific name Harmonia axyridis helps distinguish them from native species.
Source: pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, extension.msstate.edu, University of Minnesota Extension
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 49 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in North America; introduced in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Do they bite?
Yes, they can give a mild pinch bite if handled.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, University of Minnesota Extension
Why do they smell bad?
When disturbed they emit a foul-smelling yellow fluid.
How can I keep them out of my house?
Seal entry points, vacuum them up, and consider a professional perimeter insecticide if needed.
Source: pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, University of Minnesota Extension
What do they look like?
Adults are 5.5-8.5 mm, often orange-red with black spots or black with red markings, and have an “M” on the head; larvae are spiny, black-orange alligator-like.
Source: Wikipedia, pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu, extension.msstate.edu
Same family (Coccinellidae)
Sources
- extension.msstate.edu: https://extension.msstate.edu/node/7027
- University of Minnesota Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/soybean-harvest-brings-familiar-pest-asian-lady-beetles
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis
- pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu: https://pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/fact-sheet/multicolored-asian-lady-beetle/
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.