Diet

• Adults and larvae: Primarily predatory, feeding on aphids, insect eggs, mites, scale insects, thrips, and other small soft-bodied arthropods.

• They also consume substantial amounts of pollen and nectar, particularly when insect prey is scarce.

• Adults may occasionally feed on fungi and plant juices.

Range

• Native to North and Central America, ranging from southern Canada through the United States and into Mexico and parts of Central America.

• Widely distributed in Mexico, particularly in agricultural and open habitats.

• It is one of the more widespread native lady beetles of the Americas.

Habitat

• Found in grasslands, agricultural fields, orchards, gardens, meadows, woodland edges, and disturbed vegetation.

• Commonly associated with crops and flowering plants where aphids and other prey are abundant.

• Adults may also overwinter in leaf litter, plant debris, and sheltered vegetation.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 5–7 mm (0.2–0.28 in).

• Body elongated and somewhat flattened compared with many other lady beetles, with pinkish-red or orange elytra marked with black spots.