The Lady Beetle is native to Eastern Asia. The US Department of Agricultural introduced it into the United States as a biological control agent. This tree dwelling beetle is an important predator of aphids and scale insects. It was originally released in Pennsylvania in 1928 and 1981, but the first over wintering beetles were not recorded until the fall of 1993.
The beetles can become a nuisance if they invade homes from April to September. Because they control enormous numbers of aphids, scales, and other soft insects, the beetle should be collected and released outdoors.
The lady beetles are oval in shape and yellow to red in color, with or without black spots on their wing covers. The eggs are laid upright in clusters of approximately 20, are oval and yellow. The life cycle takes about 35 days, beginning in mid-spring while the weather is still cool.