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Harmonia axyridis - Asian Multi-Colored Lady Beetle
Illinois, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2008

Lady beetles are predators frequently sold for biological control, although their effectiveness is somewhat dubious.  The Asian Multi-Colored lady beetle was intentionally released in North America as a control agent for aphids (as seen here), but they rapidly became a pest in their own right.  The Harmonia introduction is a classic instance of biological control gone wrong.  The beetles congregate inside houses in the winter, biting the occupants, and they have driven a number of native, non-pesty lady beetles to local extinction.  
  

USA IL Champaign Co.: 
Champaign
40.120 N 88.275 W 230m
28.ix.2008


This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS 20D, using a Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens.