The Beauty of the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle

 Damn girl? How many outfits can just one beetle wear?? Where are you going???

(4 Assorted Ladybugs) - by me

    How many different outfits do you have in your wardrobe? Fifteen? Maybe 30? Well the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle is a total fashionista with more than 100 different combinations that you could find! If you were to hatch 10 of these bugs, chances are, none of these insects will look the exact same, besides the M-shaped design on their foreheads. They come in red, orange, yellow and even black. Each of these (besides the black variation) are able to have up to 19 spots; Some can be born spotless! 

    

    This insect is probably one you're fairly used to seeing, as they're pretty common. Something you also might know about these beetles is that they are the invasive cousin of the common ladybug, however, for the first time on this blog I'm here to say that "invasive" doesn't mean bad! While we have talked about harmful invasive species such as the Sri Lankan Weevil, there are specific beetles that are actually good for the environment despite outcompeting the local wildlife; The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle is a perfect example of this.. These beetles were originally from the Altai Mountains and the coast and Japan before being imported to North America between 1978 and 1981 and since then, they've outcompeted the local species of ladybug. However, despite this, they still share the same aphid-filled diet that their North American cousins have, which means that these ladybugs can keep your garden pest free with their appetite! In fact, even as babies these ravenous creatures will eat an average of about 400 aphids before molting! 

(The life cycle of a Lady Beetle) - by me

    The Asian Lady Beetle's life cycle is one that's very interesting as although its process of metamorphosis is almost identical to that of your common butterfly, its forms stages look nothing like them. Asian Lady Beetle Larvae have an almost crocodilian shape, with six feet and a long abdomen that looks similar to a tail that drags behind them. They can be distinguished by this shape as well as their yellow and black bodies that have a distinct cross pattern that goes down their backs. Interestingly, these larva will actually grow bigger in their larva form than they do after they reach adulthood. Before they can become adults though, they still have to become a pupa, which tends to look like an elongated dome shape with orange and black coloring. If you look closely, you can actually still see the spiky remains of the larva's last form at the top part of the pupa. While within this form, histoblasts, a special type of cell will cause the body of the bug to break down and reform into the common Lady Beetle you see today. The scientific name for this stage is actually the "Imaginal Stage."

(Aphid riding a Lady Beetle Larva) - by me

    These beetles can be found in rural environments near leaf litter, grass, bark or even under rocks. In my case, I actually found all the bugs featured in this blog in a grassy patch beside the parking lot of my job. If you find aphids near an area as well, chances are there may be Asian Lady Beetles nearby as well waiting to have a snack. If you'd like to hold one or you want to relocate one that's gotten into your house, it's fairly easy to do so. You can place your hand gently near it to see if the beetle will climb on and if not, you can grab a decently sized leaf and place it beside the insect, slightly pushing it closer in order to coax it on. Once it gets on your hand or the leaf, you can usually move it without any trouble. Asian Lady Beetles also do have the ability to bite however their mandibles aren't strong enough to break through skin.

    

    The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle is an interesting, fashionable diva with a massive appetite for aphids who's presence in North America has helped a lot of gardens and fields keep their plants safe. It's even said that if you encounter a ladybug, good fortune will come to you soon. I hope that everyone who reads this not only finds a ladybug, but I hope you find a ladybug that matches exactly with your outfit. Thank you so much for coming with me on this Multicolored journey and I can't wait to see you again in my next post!!

(Side view of The Lady) - by me

Citations: 

Asian lady beetle. Missouri Department of Conservation. (n.d.-a). https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/asian-lady-beetle

Evans, A. V. (2007b). National Wildlife Federation. field guide to insects and spiders of North America. Sterling.

Hadley, D. (2024, May 17). Get to know the stages in the life of the ladybug beetle. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-life-cycle-of-ladybugs-1968141

Lady Beetles. Lady beetles. (n.d.). https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/predators/ladybeetles.php

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle - K-state entomology - Kansas ... (n.d.-a). https://entomology.k-state.edu/doc/misc.-extension-document/harmonia.pdf 

Species Harmonia axyridis - Asian lady beetle. BugGuide.Net. (n.d.). https://bugguide.net/node/view/397

Vinje, E. (2023, August 7). What do Ladybugs Eat? - complete guide to Ladybug Diet. Planet Natural. https://www.planetnatural.com/what-do-ladybugs-eat/