Harmonia axyridis 異色瓢蟲

Common name: Harlequin Ladybird
Scientific name: Harmonia axyridis 異色瓢蟲
Genus: Harmonia 和諧瓢蟲屬
Family: Coccinellidae 瓢蟲科, ladybirds
Suborder: Polyphaga 多食亞目, non-water beetles and weevils 象甲, 象鼻蟲
Order: Coleoptera 鞘翅目, beetles

Remarks: It is predatory. It has a preference to feed on aphids but will eat other insects, including scale insects, eggs and larvae of butterflies and moths, other small insects including other ladybirds and it can be cannibalistic. There was a fear that the harlequin ladybird will out-compete some of the native aphid predators and lead to a decline in their numbers. Evidence in Britain so far is mixed with some native ladybirds showing no declines in the presence of the harlequin and others becoming less common; research is on-going. There are no means of controlling harlequin ladybirds, since any actions taken against them would also be harmful to native ladybirds, other aphid predators and other insects.

They are very variable in colour and markings. The two most common forms in UK are black with two red spots or orange with 18 black spots.

Status: The harlequin ladybird originates from Japan and has been introduced as a biological control agent around the world to control aphids. It was not deliberately introduced to Britain or Ireland, but it become established in 2004. Since then it has become widespread in England and is spreading in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Date:  6th April

1054_1 16 modest-sized black spots (but remarkably variable, with 0-21 spots and including black forms with large red marks).