New Lady Beetle Quick Tip

Lady beetles, commonly called “ladybugs” are easily recognized by their round or half-dome shape and short, clubbed antennae. Almost all species are predators of insects or mites in both adult and larval stages. Some species specialize on feeding on aphids or other groups of insects; others have a broader diet.

About 200 lady beetle species occur in California. To help identify twelve of the most common species in gardens and landscapes, the UC IPM Program created a Lady Beetle Quick Tip now available on the UC IPM web site.

The sevenspotted lady beetle is a common aphid-feeding species.

Axion plagiatum, shown here with its pupa, feeds on aphids, oak leaf phylloxera, and sycamore scale.