Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) — An Asian lady beetle rests on a leaf in Beckingen.

Creator: [Flocci Nivis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:FlocciNivis), [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20210417_Harmonia_axyridis_02.jpg), CC BY 4.0. Licence: [CC BY 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY 4.0

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Species record

Harlequin Ladybird

Harmonia axyridis

Explore the Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The harlequin ladybird is a predatory beetle native to Asia and introduced across Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. It occurs in crop fields, meadows, semi-natural vegetation, trees, and low plants, where it feeds mainly on aphids and other small invertebrates. In introduced areas, it can compete with native ladybirds.

Classification in this archive

Kingdom: Animals
Phylum: Arthropods
Class: Insects
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Harmonia

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat: crop fields and orchards, meadows, semi-natural vegetation, deciduous trees, low-growing plants
Selected regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Did you know?

Harlequin ladybirds were introduced in many places as predators of aphids, small insects that feed on plants.
Adults vary from yellow-orange to black and may have between 0 and 19 spots.

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Sources and attribution

General
IUCN Global Invasive Species Database — Harmonia axyridis
Accessed 2026-10-01
Summary
EPPO Global Database — Harmonia axyridis
Accessed 2026-10-01