Tennessee Lady Bugs: A Guide to Species and Distribution

Tennessee is home to seven species of ladybugs, each with its unique characteristics and habits.

The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle is one of the most common species found in Tennessee, known for its bright orange and black coloration.

These ladybugs are beneficial to the environment, feeding on aphids and other garden pests, which can help reduce the need for pesticides.

The 12-spotted ladybug is another common species in Tennessee, easily recognizable by its 12 black spots on a yellow background.

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Tennessee's ladybugs are a fascinating topic, and one question that often comes up is why they invade our homes and yards. Many people call the Asian Lady Beetle the "Halloween Beetle" because it often invades homes during October to overwinter.

Unfortunately, this species is considered one of the world's most invasive insects. Their bodily fluids have an unpleasant odor and can stain fabric, so try not to crush this beetle if you find it inside!

The Asian Lady Beetle is native to eastern Asia and was brought over to help control aphids, but it has spread quickly through Tennessee, outcompeting and replacing native species like the Convergent Lady Beetle.

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Ladybugs invade Tennessee for a reason, and it's not because they're looking for a vacation spot. They tend to target homes that don't have year-round pest control.

If your home is the lightest house in the neighborhood or the highest one on the hill, you're more likely to have ladybugs knocking on your door. They congregate on the north side of homes and quickly begin looking for small cracks to get into your wall voids.

Ladybugs will hunker down in these areas for a long winter break, and you might not even notice them. However, their presence can cause major health risks to humans and pets alike.

Here are some reasons why ladybug infestations can be a problem:

The Asian Lady Beetle is a highly invasive species in Tennessee, native to eastern Asia and introduced to help control aphids.

They've quickly spread throughout the state, with many people noticing them invading homes during October as they overwinter.

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This species is considered one of the world's most invasive insects, with bodily fluids that have an unpleasant odor and can stain fabric.

It's best not to crush these beetles if you find them inside, as their bodily fluids can be a real pain to clean up.

One way to identify the Asian Lady Beetle is by looking for black markings on its head that resemble the letter "W" or "M".

The Asian lady beetle, also known as Harmonia axyridis, closely resembles native Tennessee ladybugs in size, shape, and general coloration.

They can be distinguished by the distinctive white "M" or "W" marking on their head, which native ladybugs lack.

Unlike beneficial native ladybugs, Asian lady beetles can inflict painful bites that may trigger allergic reactions in some individuals, though they don't transmit diseases.

Both species feed on aphids and other garden pests, making them beneficial outdoors.

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Let's dive into the fascinating world of ladybug species. There are 12 ladybug species that live in Tennessee, each with its unique characteristics.

The ladybugs of Tennessee are quite diverse, with species ranging in color, size, and shape. Some ladybugs are more common than others, but they all share the distinctive red and black coloration.

The seven-spot ladybug is a common species found in Tennessee, known for its bright red and black spots. It's a popular sight in gardens and backyards.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle is another common species, recognized by its orange or red color with black spots. It's often mistaken for the seven-spot ladybug.

Some ladybug species are more rare than others, and it's essential to know what to look for to identify them correctly. The last two ladybug species on the list are not actually "ladybugs", but they look very similar and often confuse people.

These impostors are often mistaken for ladybugs, but they have distinct differences that set them apart.

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The Fourteen-Spotted Ladybird Beetle is found in various habitats, including mixed forests, meadows, or fields.

You can spot them at ground level in gardens and parks, often near leaf litter, moss, compost piles, and plants.

These tiny insects are incredibly fast, flying up to 37 mph.

They can travel a long way without taking a break, up to 70 miles at a time.

The Convergent Lady Beetle is a common native ladybug in Tennessee, often found in a wide variety of habitats, including your yard or garden.

They are a pretty species, but unfortunately, they're being outcompeted and replaced by the invasive Asian Ladybeetle in certain areas.

Native ladybugs like the Convergent Lady Beetle feed on aphids and other garden pests, making them beneficial outdoors.

One way to distinguish the Convergent Lady Beetle from the Asian Ladybeetle is to look for its distinctive markings, but unfortunately, that's not always easy to do.

The Asian Ladybeetle can inflict painful bites that may trigger allergic reactions in some individuals, so it's a good thing we have native ladybugs like the Convergent Lady Beetle that are harmless to humans.

Tennessee Ladybugs are known to seek warm shelter inside buildings during the fall and winter months.

They often gather along windowsills and doorways, taking advantage of the warmth and light.

Ladybugs can also be found clustering in corners of rooms, especially near windows.

In Tennessee homes, common places to find ladybugs include attics, garages, and basements.

Ladybugs frequently gather on sun-exposed exterior walls, particularly south and west-facing walls.

You can also find ladybugs inside houseplant pots and behind baseboards and in wall voids.

Here's a list of common places to find ladybugs in Tennessee homes:

The Tennessee State Insect is the ladybug, also known as the ladybeetle or ladybird beetle.

They are around four-tenths of an inch long and brightly colored.

The ladybug's popular name is given to the Coccinella 7, which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and called "Beetle of Our Lady."

Ladybugs are sold to farmers to control insect pests because they are important aphid predators.

The ladybug's life cycle is about four weeks as the ladybug larvae passes through four growth stages feeding on insects and insect eggs.

In folk medicine, ladybugs were believed to cure various diseases such as colic and measles.

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