Ladybugs VS Asian Lady Beetles

In the 1910s, the Asian Lady Beetle, a species of Lady Beetle native to Eastern Asia, was released in the US by the Department of Agriculture to help control booming aphid populations that native Ladybugs could not control on their own. While the Asian Lady Beetles do in fact eat aphids like their native counterparts, they are opportunists and will eat Ladybug larvae and young as well.

Due to their hardy nature and similar appetite, Ladybug populations are being threatened, not only due to being eaten but also having habitat space overrun by the very adaptable Asian Lady Beetles. The US Ladybugs are not the only ones under attack, either; the issue persists in the UK as well. Ladybugs, which are docile, do not bite, but Asian Lady Beetles can and will bite if they feel threatened. They also often seek shelter in homes to hide from the cold as fall and winter approach, causing them to become a nuisance to most homeowners. 

Thus, the beetle has been labeled both as invasive and a pest in the US and the UK. While utilizing Coccinellidae (the umbrella term for Lady Beetle species), being utilized as pest control can be traced back to Ancient Greece; however, with Asian Lady Beetles now being invasive and threatening the ladybug populations and habitat, it is advised that farmers and gardeners tread cautiously when purchasing Ladybugs online. 

For more information, visit: 
Harmonia axyridis - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio
Ladybug vs. Asian Lady Beetle: Battling Pests - Global Ideas
​(Image Credit Pepper's Home & Garden)