Harmonia axyridis Pallas

Multicoloured Asian ladybird

[Morphology] 5 - 9 mm. Large ladybird that comes in a number of quite different varieties. In Europe these aberrations can be found:
H. axyridis succinea: orange to red, 0 to 19 spots
H. axyridis spectabilis: black, 4 pale to red dots
H. axyridis conspicua: black, 2 pale to red spots
H. axyridis equicolor: bottom half black top half orange to red
Also a few instances of completely black specimen have been found[G Nieland]


Also named Harlequin ladybird^M). Not to be confused with Harmonia quadripunctata that is called harlequin in many languages.
[Ecology] On trees in gardens and parks, wood borders.
Also on reeds
[Distribution] Very common.
Recent introduction as a pest control this species shows a remarkable population explosion throughout Western Europe as it did in the US many years earlier.
Originally from eastern Asia (China Japan)



° NL:Veelkleurig aziatisch lieveheersbeestje ° FR:coccinelle asiatique multicolor ° D:Asiatische Marienkäfer °