Seven-spotted Lady Beetle, Ladybug, Ladybird

This non-native ladybug is competing with US native lady bugs for resources. They are not the pest that the Asian Ladybugs are to our continent, but they are still causing the decline of the similar looking nine-spotted ladybug and others.

Make conditions favorable to native species, and you should not have to purchase insects from other parts of the world. If you must release lady beetles to control pests in your garden, look for companies that carry insects already belonging to your continent, instead of adding to the problem. Let us work to not make the same mistakes as earlier generations did. Think Starling, Pigeons, Asian Ladybeetles...

As I identify insects on our property, they are "innocent until proven guilty". Now that the C-7 is recognized, th... read moreey are "guilty" and worthy of a squishing.

You can purchase them but there's no guarantee they'll stay in your yard. I love to watch the ladybug lovefest every spring on my old silver maple - they tend to like the new growth. Must be where the aphids are. But for about three weeks the lower branches of the maple are covered in ladybugs - it's fascinating to watch them mate and go about their lives!

There are about 450 species in the U.S.A. and about 5000 different species of ladybugs throughout the world.
This, the seven-spotted lady beetle, is one of the two most common Ladybugs that were introduced in the 1970's in the USA.
Very beneficial to the garden, munching on aphids. Extra ladybugs for your garden can be purchased.