Pest profile

Twospotted Lady Beetle

Adalia bipunctata · Coleoptera: Coccinellidae[2]

Twospotted lady beetles hunt aphids, especially on trees and shrubs, and they're confusing to identify because individuals come in very different colors.[1]

Twospotted lady beetle with orange-red wing covers each marked with one black spot, on lichen-covered bark
Twospotted lady beetle with orange-red wing covers each marked with one black spot, on lichen-covered bark. (c) Halema J, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Adults are 1/6 to 1/5 inch long and oblong from above.[1]
  • The most common form has orange or red wing covers with two black spots and a black-and-white thorax.[1]
  • Other forms are mostly black with four or six orange to red spots.[1]
  • Eggs are orange to pale yellow and stand on end in groups; older larvae are black, gray and whitish with orange or yellow marks.[1]

Where it lives

It may be native to North America and turns up on almost any aphid-infested plant, from crops to gardens and wildlands.[1]

US map: public records from 30 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Females lay egg groups mostly under aphid-infested leaves, and larvae pass through four stages.[1]

Egg to reproductive adult takes about three weeks in warm weather, with at least three generations a year.[1]

With blossoms and prey available, adults live about two months.[1]

Damage and signs

  • It eats aphids mostly, plus adelgids, psyllids and other plant-sucking insects.[1]

Health risk

UC IPM describes it only as an aphid predator, with no mention of any concern for people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Persistent, broad-spectrum insecticides kill lady beetles, so choose targeted controls.[1]

Biological control

Flowers with nectar and pollen help adults live longer and lay more eggs.[1]

Keep ants under control, since they attack lady beetles.[1]

Common questions

Is a black ladybug with red spots a twospotted lady beetle?
It can be. Some twospotted lady beetles are mostly black with four or six red spots instead of red with two black spots.[1]
Where should I look for them?
On aphid-infested trees and shrubs, which this species prefers.[1]

Sources

  1. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Twospotted Lady Beetle (Natural Enemies Gallery).” ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/twospotted-lady-beetle/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Adalia bipunctata taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52506 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.