Lady-beetle
Guides
Allenius
Allenius is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) containing a single described species, Allenius iviei. The genus was established in 2012 and is notable for its extreme rarity and distinctive morphology. The sole species is known from only a few specimens collected in the northwestern United States.
Anatis
Giant Lady Beetles
Anatis is a genus of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) commonly known as "giant lady beetles." The genus contains approximately ten extant species distributed primarily in North America, with at least two fossil species described. Members are relatively large compared to most lady beetles and are predatory as adults and larvae. The genus includes notable species such as Anatis mali and Anatis labiculata, which have been studied for their biological control potential.
Anatis mali
Eye-spotted Lady Beetle
Anatis mali, commonly known as the eye-spotted lady beetle, is a North American lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure 7.3–10 mm in length and display variable coloration from yellow to brownish red with black markings. The species has been documented as a specialized predator of aphids in balsam fir plantations, where it plays a significant role in biological control. Research indicates that larvae require approximately 296 aphids to complete development and pupate.
Arawana arizonica
Arawana arizonica is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, measuring 3.25–3.50 mm in length. Adults are black or piceous with a distinctive red spot on each elytron. The species is known only from Arizona in southwestern North America.
Axion plagiatum
Twice-struck Lady Beetle
Axion plagiatum is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is commonly known as the Twice-struck Lady Beetle. The species occurs in the Caribbean and North America, with records from Louisiana to Oregon and southern California. Adults can be distinguished from the closely related Axion tripustulatum by the absence of a sutural spot on the elytron.
Azya
Azya is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) comprising approximately 12 described species. The genus is notable for its unusual coloration—many species display cobalt blue rather than the typical red-orange-and-black pattern of most coccinellids. Azya species are predators of scale insects, particularly in agricultural settings. The genus was established by Mulsant in 1850 and occurs primarily in the Neotropics.
Azya orbigera
globe-marked lady beetle
Azya orbigera, commonly known as the globe-marked lady beetle, is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. It is distinguished by its unusual cobalt blue coloration and dense dorsal pubescence, which contrast sharply with the typical red-and-black pattern of most lady beetles. Adults measure 2.90–4.25 mm in length and possess a yellow head with greenish-black dorsum and a characteristic round discal spot on each elytron. The species has a broad distribution across North America, Oceania, and South America, with two recognized subspecies.
Blaisdelliana sexualis
Pitch Lady Beetle
Blaisdelliana sexualis is a minute lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) found in the southwestern United States. Adults measure approximately 1.25–1.78 mm in length. The species has been recorded from California and Arizona, where it inhabits arid and semi-arid environments. Little is known of its biology beyond basic morphological description.
Brachiacantha arizonica
Arizona lady beetle, Arizona Spurleg
Brachiacantha arizonica, known as the Arizona lady beetle, is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.90–3.60 mm in length. The species is characterized by distinctive coloration: a yellow anterior margin and anterolateral angle on the pronotum, with black elytra bearing four yellow spots. It has been recorded from Arizona in North America.
Brachiacantha bollii
Boll's lady beetle, Confluent-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha bollii, commonly known as Boll's lady beetle, is a small species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.40–3 mm in length. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in pronotal coloration: males have a black pronotum with the anterior one-third yellow, while females have a black pronotum with a yellow anterolateral angle. The elytra display five large round spots. It has been recorded from Louisiana and Texas in North America.
Brachiacantha decora
Decorated Spurleg, decorated lady beetle
Brachiacantha decora Casey, 1899 is a North American lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) historically recognized as a distinct species. A 2020 taxonomic revision synonymized it with Brachiacantha bistripustulata (Fabricius, 1801), rendering B. decora a junior synonym. The species belongs to the dentipes species group within Brachiacantha. No independent biological data exist for B. decora as a separate taxon; all ecological information refers to the synonymized B. bistripustulata.
Brachiacantha dentipes
Brachiacantha dentipes is a small lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) native to North America. Adults measure 4.75–6.30 mm in length. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in pronotum coloration: males have a black pronotum with yellow or orange anterior margin and lateral areas, while females have a similar pattern but with a black anterior margin. The elytra are black with an orange or yellow apical spot and a median band. The subspecies B. dentipes americana Leng, 1911 has been synonymized with the nominate form.
Brachiacantha felina
Orange-spotted Lady Beetle
Brachiacantha felina is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, native to eastern and central North America. Adults measure 2.2–3 mm and exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism in pronotum coloration. The species is known from scattered records across its range, with relatively few observations documented.
Brachiacantha indubitabilis
Small-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha indubitabilis is a minute lady beetle (Coccinellidae) distinguished by strong sexual dimorphism in coloration. Males display a yellow head and black pronotum with yellow anterior margin, while females have a yellowish-brown head and laterally yellow pronotum. Both sexes share black elytra marked with three yellow spots. The species is recorded from the northeastern and midwestern United States.
Brachiacantha lepida
Lepidine Spurleg Lady Beetle
Brachiacantha lepida is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure 2.50–3.60 mm in length. The species is known from Central America, with records from Mexico to Costa Rica. It is distinguished by specific coloration patterns on the head, pronotum, and elytra.
Brachiacantha quadrillum
Corner-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha quadrillum is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, first described by LeConte in 1858. It belongs to the dentipes group within the genus Brachiacantha. The species is known from North America, with records from Texas and additional Neotropical localities documented in recent taxonomic revisions. Adults are characterized by distinctive coloration on the pronotum and elytra.
Brachiacantha quadripunctata
Four-spotted Spurleg
Brachiacantha quadripunctata is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, native to North America. Adults measure 2.5–4.0 mm and exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism in head coloration and elytral spot patterns. The species comprises two recognized subspecies with partially overlapping but distinct geographic ranges in the eastern and southeastern United States.
Brachiacantha quadripunctata flavifrons
A subspecies of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, distinguished by its yellowish frontal coloration. The specific epithet "flavifrons" (meaning yellow forehead) refers to this distinguishing facial characteristic. It belongs to a genus of small, often inconspicuous lady beetles that are typically associated with forest habitats and leaf litter environments.
Brachiacantha rotunda
Brachiacantha rotunda is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae, described by Gordon in 1985. The species name refers to its rounded body form. Adults measure approximately 3.10–4.00 mm in length. The species has been recorded from multiple states and provinces in eastern North America.
Brachiacantha stephani
Stephan's lady beetle
Brachiacantha stephani, known as Stephan's lady beetle, is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae. Adults exhibit distinctive coloration with black bodies marked by yellow and reddish-orange patterns on the pronotum and elytra. The species is known from a limited geographic range in North America, specifically recorded from Arizona. It is named in honor of Karl Stephan, collector of part of the type series.
Brachiacantha tau
t-marked larkspur lady beetle, T-marked Spurleg
Brachiacantha tau is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) measuring approximately 2–3 mm in length. Adults are oval and shiny. The species is notable for its larval biology: larvae feed on scale insects within ant colonies, making them rarely observed. Adults are sometimes found on flowers or hunting in foliage. The specific epithet "tau" refers to a T-shaped marking on the species.
Brachiacantha testudo
Turtle Lady, Texas Ten-spotted Spurleg
A small North American lady beetle distinguished by its distinctive spotted pattern and turtle-like appearance. Adults measure 2.25–3.30 mm. The species has been recorded from Texas and is known by two common names reflecting its appearance and distribution.
Brumoides histrio
Lepine Lady Beetle
Brumoides histrio is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, commonly known as the Lepine Lady Beetle. Adults measure 2.75–4.0 mm in length. The species is native to North America, with documented records from Utah to Arizona and southern California. Its color pattern resembles that of the related species Brumoides septentrionis.
Brumoides septentrionis hogei
Brumoides septentrionis hogei is a subspecies of lady beetle (Coccinellidae) described by Gorham in 1894. It belongs to the genus Brumoides, a group of small, elongate lady beetles often associated with scale insects. The subspecific designation indicates geographic or morphological differentiation within the widespread species B. septentrionis. Very few observations exist in citizen science databases, suggesting either genuine rarity or undercollection.
Brumus
Brumus is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) established by Mulsant in 1850. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Species in this genus are generally small to medium-sized coccinellids with somewhat elongated body forms compared to the more rounded typical lady beetles.
Cephaloscymnus zimmermanni
Zimmermann's lady beetle
Cephaloscymnus zimmermanni is a minute lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults measure approximately 2.15–2.40 mm in length with a dark piceous to black body. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Washington D.C., Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. It belongs to the subfamily Scymninae, a group of small predatory lady beetles.
Chilocorus bipustulatus
heather ladybird, heather lady beetle
Chilocorus bipustulatus is a small lady beetle in the subfamily Chilocorinae, commonly known as the heather ladybird. It is widely distributed across the Palearctic and has been introduced to tropical Africa, Hawaii, and North America for biological control. The species is recognized by its shiny brown elytra with two reddish-orange spots. Both adults and larvae are specialist predators of scale insects, particularly armored scales (Diaspididae), and are used commercially to manage scale infestations in orchards and forests.
Chilocorus cacti
cactus lady beetle, twice-stabbed cactus lady beetle
Chilocorus cacti is a small predatory lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, native to the New World and introduced to several regions including South Africa, India, and New Zealand. Both adults and larvae are specialized predators of scale insects, with documented consumption of numerous agricultural pest species. The species has been evaluated for biological control programs with variable success. Its common name derives from its frequent association with prickly pear cacti and the distinctive two reddish-brown spots on its otherwise black elytra.
Chilocorus circumdatus
red chilocorus
Chilocorus circumdatus is a predatory lady beetle native to Southern Asia that has been introduced to Hawaii and established in Australia. The species is recognized by its helmet-shaped body and orange-red coloration with a fine black margin at the base of the wings. It is a specialized predator of armoured scale insects (Diaspididae), making it significant in biological control programs.
Chrysaster on-canavalia
Chrysaster on-canavalia is a species of lady beetle (family Coccinellidae) in the subfamily Chilocorinae. This species is known from limited documented records, primarily associated with tropical regions. It belongs to a genus characterized by small, often inconspicuous coccinellids that differ in morphology from the more familiar brightly colored lady beetles. The specific epithet references Canavalia, a legume genus, suggesting a potential ecological association.
Clitostethus
dusky lady beetles
Clitostethus is a genus of minute lady beetles (Coccinellidae: Scymninae) comprising over 40 species. Members are recognized as specialized predators of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae). Several species have been evaluated as biological control agents against agricultural pests including Bemisia tabaci and Siphoninus phillyreae. The genus was established by Weise in 1885 and includes species formerly classified under Nephaspis.
Coccidula lepida
snow lady beetle, black arrow lady beetle
Coccidula lepida is a small lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae, known by the common names snow lady beetle and black arrow lady beetle. Adults measure 2.75–3.45 mm in length and are characterized by yellow elytra with black spots, a black head, and yellow body coloration. The species is distributed across northern North America, with records from Quebec to New Jersey, west to Alaska and Colorado, and additional Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.
Coccinella alta
High-country Lady Beetle
Coccinella alta is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae, first described by W.J. Brown in 1962. It is native to western North America, with confirmed records from Alberta, Utah, Colorado, and California. Adults measure approximately 4.80–5.30 mm in length and display distinctive black and pale coloration patterns on the head, pronotum, and elytra. The species appears to be associated with high-elevation or montane habitats, as suggested by its specific epithet and common name.
Coccinella californica
California Lady Beetle
Coccinella californica is a ladybird beetle endemic to coastal California. Adults measure 5.10–6.80 mm and are distinguished by predominantly red, usually spotless elytra and a mostly black thorax. The species plays a documented role in biological pest control in vineyard ecosystems.
Coccinella fulgida
Gleaming Lady Beetle
Coccinella fulgida is a small lady beetle species in the family Coccinellidae, described by Watson in 1954. Adults measure 4.50–5.60 mm in length. The species is found in northern North America, with records from Alaska, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Quebec. It is among the less commonly documented members of the genus Coccinella.
Coccinella hieroglyphica
Hieroglyphic Lady Beetle, Hieroglyphic Ladybird, Hieroglyphic Ladybug
Coccinella hieroglyphica is a Palearctic lady beetle species associated with heath and moorland habitats, particularly on Ericaceae plants. It is distributed across northern Europe, extending beyond the Arctic Circle, through Russia and Siberia to East Asia. The species is aphidophagous, with populations showing considerable annual fluctuation. Adults are active from May through October and overwinter in coarse woody debris beneath pines and birches.
Coccinella hieroglyphica kirbyi
Coccinella hieroglyphica kirbyi is a subspecies of hieroglyphic lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is classified within the diverse genus Coccinella, which includes numerous aphid-feeding species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. This subspecies represents part of the broader C. hieroglyphica complex found across northern regions.
Coccinella hieroglyphica mannerheimi
Coccinella hieroglyphica mannerheimi is a subspecies of hieroglyphic lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is part of the Coccinella hieroglyphica species complex, which is characterized by distinctive elytral markings. The subspecies was described by Mulsant in 1850. It occurs across parts of Europe, Northern Asia, and North America.
Coccinella prolongata
Prolongate Lady Beetle
Coccinella prolongata, the prolongate lady beetle, is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is a small beetle measuring 5.7–7 mm in length, with distinctive black and pale markings on the head, pronotum, and elytra. The species is native to western North America and comprises three recognized subspecies with somewhat different geographic ranges. Like other members of the genus Coccinella, it is presumed to be a predator of soft-bodied insects such as aphids.
Coccinella trifasciata
three-banded lady beetle, three-banded ladybug
Coccinella trifasciata, the three-banded lady beetle, is a widely distributed species in the family Coccinellidae. It occurs across North America, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), Oceania, and Southern Asia. The species includes three recognized subspecies, with C. t. perplexa found from Labrador to New Jersey and west to Alaska and California, and C. t. subversa ranging from British Columbia to California. Adults of the subspecies C. t. perplexa have been documented as hosts for the parasitoid wasp Perilitus coccinellae in Ontario, Canada.
Coccinella trifasciata perplexa
American Three-banded Lady Beetle
Coccinella trifasciata perplexa is a subspecies of three-banded lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It occurs in North America and has been documented as a host for the parasitoid wasp Perilitus coccinellae in Ontario, where approximately 7% of adult beetles were parasitized in field studies. The subspecies is part of a broader species complex with distribution across multiple continents.
Coccinella undecimpunctata
eleven-spot ladybird, eleven-spotted lady beetle, eleven-spotted ladybird beetle
Coccinella undecimpunctata, commonly known as the eleven-spot ladybird or eleven-spotted lady beetle, is a small predatory beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is endemic to the Palearctic region and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand as a biological control agent. The species is distinguished by eleven black spots on its red or orange elytra, though one central spot creates the appearance of six spots per elytron. It is an effective predator of aphids and is used in integrated pest management programs.
Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris
Spotted Orange Lady Beetle
Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris is a subspecies of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It belongs to a genus notable for having up to 50 percent of its diet composed of plant pollen, a unique trait among North American lady beetles. The species-level characteristics of this subspecies are not well documented in available sources.
Coleomegilla maculata strenua
12-spotted lady beetle, pink-spotted lady beetle
Coleomegilla maculata strenua is a subspecies of the 12-spotted lady beetle, a native North American coccinellid. Adults display a distinctive pink to reddish coloration with six black spots on each elytron. This subspecies is part of a species complex known for unusual dietary habits among lady beetles, including substantial consumption of plant pollen alongside typical predatory feeding.
Curinus
Curinus is a genus of lady beetles in the family Coccinellidae, established by Mulsant in 1850. The genus contains at least one described species, Curinus coeruleus, commonly known as the metallic blue ladybeetle. Curinus coeruleus has been studied as a biological control agent for armored scale insects in citrus production systems.
Cycloneda
Spotless Lady Beetles
Cycloneda is a genus of lady beetles in the family Coccinellidae, commonly known as spotless lady beetles. The genus contains approximately 18–20 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Members of this genus are recognized by their typically unmarked, polished elytra lacking the spots characteristic of many other coccinellids. They are predatory beetles that feed on soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids and spider mites, and are valued as biological control agents in agricultural and garden settings.
Cycloneda emarginata
Cycloneda emarginata is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. The species was described by Mulsant in 1850, originally placed in the genus Coccinella. Records indicate occurrence in South America, including Brazil (Santa Catarina) and Colombia across multiple departments. The genus Cycloneda contains species commonly known as spotless lady beetles, characterized by unmarked or minimally marked elytra.
Cycloneda polita
Western Polished Lady Beetle, Western Blood-red Lady Beetle, Polished Ladybug, Western Spotless Ladybird Beetle
Cycloneda polita is a small, spotless lady beetle native to western North America. Unlike most lady beetles, it lacks the characteristic spots on its elytra, presenting a uniform red or orange-red appearance. The species is commonly found in diverse habitats ranging from grasslands to forest edges, where it preys on aphids and other small soft-bodied insects. It is one of the most frequently observed lady beetles in its range, with over 6,000 documented observations on citizen science platforms.
Cycloneda sanguinea
Spotless Lady Beetle, Spotless Ladybug
Cycloneda sanguinea, commonly known as the spotless lady beetle, is a widespread ladybird beetle native to the Americas. It is distinguished by its lack of spots on the elytra, with coloration ranging from orange to deep red. The species is a voracious predator of aphids and other soft-bodied insects, making it valuable for biological control in agricultural systems. Adults and larvae both actively hunt prey, with females using volatile chemical cues to assess patch quality and avoid competitor-rich habitats. Recent research has also identified C. sanguinea as a potential vector for dispersing plant pathogens in soybean fields.
Decadiomus bahamicus
Rubin Vase Lady Beetle
Decadiomus bahamicus is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is native to the Caribbean region and has been recorded in southern Florida. The species is known by the common name "Rubin Vase Lady Beetle." Knowledge of this species is limited, with few documented observations.