Harmonia axyridis

Harmonia axyridis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Coccinellidae
Genus:	Harmonia
Species:	H. axyridis
Binomial name
Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773)
Synonyms
Anatis circe Mulsant, 1850 Coccinella bisexnotata Herbst, 1793 Leis axyridis (Pallas) Ptychanatis axyridis (Pallas) Coccinella axyridis Pallas, 1773

Harmonia axyridis is a large lady beetle or ladybug species that is most commonly known as the harlequin, Asian, or multicoloured Asian lady beetle. This is one of the most variable species in the world, with an exceptionally wide range of colour forms.^[1] It is native to eastern Asia, but has been artificially introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known, and spreading in those regions, and has also established in Africa and widely across South America. This species is conspicuous in North America, where it may locally be known as the Halloween beetle, as it often invades homes during October to overwinter.^[2]

When the species first arrived in the UK, it was labelled in jest as the "many-named ladybird" due to the great quantity of vernacular names. Among those already listed other names include multivariate, southern, Japanese, and pumpkin ladybird.^[3]