Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Harlequin ladybird

Harmonia axyridis

Description:

Harmonia axyridis is a large coccinellid beetle. Its colour ranges from yellow-orange to black, and the number of spots between 0 and 22.
It is native to eastern Asia, but has been introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known and spreading in those regions. Many people now view this species as a nuisance, partly due to their tendency to overwinter indoors and the unpleasant odor and stain left by their bodily fluid when frightened or squashed, as well as their tendency to bite humans.
In Europe it is currently increasing to the detriment of indigenous species, its voracious appetite enabling it to out-compete and even eat other ladybirds. Native ladybird species have experienced often dramatic declines in abundance in areas invaded by H. axyridis. In addition to its household pest status, it has been reported to be a minor agricultural pest contaminating crops of tender fruits and grapes in Iowa, Ohio, New York State, and Ontario.
The contamination of grapes by this beetle has been found to alter the taste of wine. It is commonly known in North America as Asian lady beetle, or Japanese ladybug, and in the United Kingdom as the Harlequin ladybird (the last because it occurs in numerous colour forms).

Harmonia axyridis es una mariquita, chinita, catarina, sarantontón o vaquita de San Antonio de la familia Coccinellidae originaria de Asia que ha sido introducida en Norteámerica, Europa y Sudámerica con el propósito de controlar a los pulgones, familia Aphididae. Se ha difundido ampliamente en todas estas regiones y continúa su expansión. Infortunadamente se ha convertido en plaga en muchas partes donde no es una especie nativa; invade el interior de las casas en otoño en busca de un lugar donde invernar y afecta negativamente las poblaciones de mariquitas nativas.

Habitat:

Cosmopolitan, original from Asia, is now invading the central zone of Chile.

Cosmopolita, originaria de Asia, ahora está invadiendo la zona central de Chile (IV a VI región)

Notes:

This day two of these came to visit a colony of Psyllobora picta living in my garden.

Ese día vinieron dos de estas a visitar una colonia de Psyllobora picta viviendo en mi jardín.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

3 Comments

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Wow! Incredible!

Agustín Amenabar L
Agustín Amenabar L 12 years ago

Thanks Alice! I'm amazed at how humans have spread this species all over the planet, without much regard to what it will do to local populations.

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Good picture, Good information!

Lo Barnechea, XIII Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile

Spotted on Feb 29, 2012
Submitted on Mar 9, 2012

Related Spottings

Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia Tiger Wing Harlequin Ladybird Harlequin ladybird

Nearby Spottings

Diuca Tenca / Chilean mockingbird Mariposa de la Tarde Grass Skipper
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team