There are many types of ladybugs in Georgia, but the most common one you’ll see will be Coccinella septempunctata, or the seven-spotted ladybug.
These small beetles are beautiful, with red and black spots on their back and orange spots on their stomachs.
They’re also widespread because they eat aphids — tiny insects that damage plants — making them popular among farmers and gardeners all over Georgia.
However, many other types of ladybugs in Georgia, ranging from small to large, have different coloration and eating habits.
1. Cardinal Ladybird
The cardinal ladybird is a type of ladybug that lives in Georgia. This type is orange or red with black spots and can measure up to 2 cm. They are mostly found on the ground, but they will also fly away if disturbed.
You can identify this ladybug by its spots which almost form an M shape on its back and long antennae. Cardinal ladybirds feed on various pests that destroy crops and garden plants, such as aphids and mealy bugs, so you may find them outside looking for food.
The best way to identify one is by looking at the coloration since several other types of ladybugs live in Georgia.
For example, the oriental ladybird has a more rounded body with spots forming an oval shape. There is also the seven-spotted ladybug which usually has seven white dots arranged in two rows along each side of its body.
There are many different types of ladybugs in Georgia, and it is helpful to know what type it is before you decide how to get rid of it. If you believe it’s beneficial, then take measures to help keep it around!
2. Fourteen-Spotted Ladybird Beetle
The Fourteen-Spotted Ladybird Beetle is a small, oval beetle with alternating yellow and black spots on its wing covers.
These types of ladybugs in Georgia are most commonly found in the eastern United States and Canada. It’s also sometimes called the Fourteen-spotted Ladybird, Fourteen-spotted Coccinellid, or Common Coccinellid.
The Seven-Spotted Ladybird Beetle is another type you may find around your home. It has seven black spots on each wing cover and can be identified by the white band that crosses its back. One way to tell these two beetles apart is their egg-laying habits.
The Fourteen-spotted Ladybird lays eggs singly under leaves near aphids, while the Seven-Spot Ladybird beetle will lay eggs in batches of up to 20 at a time.
These types of beetles are voracious predators and have been known to eliminate severe agricultural pests such as the cotton bollworm.
They’re both considered beneficial insects because they eat pests. These beetles are susceptible to habitat changes, so if you live in an urban area with limited green space, it’s vital not to use pesticides outside your home because this will kill off all the insects, including the fourteen-spot ladybird beetle.
3. Seven-Spotted Ladybug
The Seven-Spotted Ladybug is one of the most common in Georgia, with yellow or orange wings and seven black spots.
They are typically 1.5-2 cm long and can be found from April through September. Older beetles will turn dark blue/gray when they reach maturity.
They’re about 1 inch long and tend to come out in spring, fall, and winter but can also be spotted in summer if they migrate into your area.
Another identifying characteristic is the two orange stripes down their back and three white stripes on either side of them.
Their lifespan tends to last around ten months, with adults living up to eight months and larvae living up to 15 months.
Spotted (Coleomegilla Maculata) & Multicolored: There are many species of ladybugs, so you must know what type you’re dealing with before trying any methods to remove them!
4. Ornate Checkered Beetle
The Ornate Checkered Beetle is a type of ladybug found in Georgia. Like most other ladybugs, the Ornate Checkered Beetle is easily identified by its black and orange coloration.
However, it also has a few distinctive characteristics that make it stand out from other species. For one thing, this ladybug has an elongated head with two spots on each side. It also has a black zigzag pattern that runs down the back half of its body.
As a member of the Coccinellidae family, the Ornate Checkered Beetle will feed primarily on soft-bodied insects such as aphids and mealybugs; it will sometimes consume plant matter as well.
The colors of these ladybugs in Georgia are more vivid than those seen on other ladybugs, making them easier to spot when they’re sitting atop your flowers or plants.
They’re especially active during late spring into summer and autumn because they like to hunt for prey when populations are at their highest levels.
As the name implies, the ornate checkered beetle lives up to its name: it’s got elaborate markings all over its body.
In addition to having a more giant, more pronounced head with two spots on either side, it also has an intricate black zigzag pattern running along the posterior end of its abdomen.
5. Thirteen-Spot Lady Beetle
The Thirteen-Spot Lady Beetle is the most common ladybug in Georgia. It’s reddish-orange with thirteen black spots on its back and two rows of six holes each on its wing cases.
The Thirteen-Spot Lady Beetle can be identified by looking for a row of six black spots that run along the bottom edge of its wing cases.
Sometimes, this species will also have white dots around the edges of the wing cases and a white dot at the end of its antennae.
Another way to identify these types of ladybugs in Georgia is by counting the number of spots on its back. If there are twelve or more, it’s not a thirteen-spot ladybeetle but another type of ladybug altogether.
The Thirteen-Spot Lady Beetle was once thought to be an invasive pest because they were so prevalent.
They’re now known as helpful bugs because they eat aphids, scale insects, and leafhoppers. Aphids suck plant juices out of plants, causing them to wilt; Scale Insects secrete honeydew and use a hard shell for protection from predators; Leafhoppers are plant pests that suck plant juices out of plants’ leaves.
6. Two-Spotted Ladybug
The two-spotted ladybug is a common type found all over the United States and Canada. The two-spotted ladybug is not just one color but can come in shades of orange, red, brown, yellow, or purple.
The two-spotted ladybug has a black spot on each wing cover and only one black dot near its head.
These types of ladybugs in Georgia also have seven locations on its back. All ladybugs have an exoskeleton that is hardened like armor to protect themselves from predators.
A ladybug’s diet consists mainly of aphids, mealy bugs, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects.
A two-spotted ladybug will eat around 50 aphids per day, and different types of insects are considered pests for farmers and gardeners.
There are three species of these two-spot ladybugs: Coccinella novemnotata, Coccinella bipunctata, and Coccinella septempunctata.
In some parts of North America, the two-spotted ladybug is known as a cow killer because it eats milkweed plants which cows love to graze on.
When disturbed, the two-spotted ladybug releases a foul-smelling liquid from the glands behind its head to warn off predators.
These types of ladybugs in Georgia are typically harmless to humans and often use their sharp mouthparts to bite humans when threatened.
These bites don’t usually hurt unless you squeeze them too hard, but if you get bitten by one of these evil creatures, you should seek medical attention immediately.
7. Convergent Lady Beetle
The Convergent Lady Beetle is a tiny, red ladybug with black spots on the back of its elytra. These types of ladybugs in Georgia are found primarily in the eastern United States and feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects.
Convergent Lady Beetles are active from April to October but can be seen year-round. They overwinter as adults beneath fallen leaves or grass clippings.
This type of ladybug in Georgia is also known as the Harlequin Lady Beetle because it has distinctive markings. Its coloration and patterns make this beetle easy to identify.
Its patterning may vary depending on what kind of prey they have eaten; some have more stripes than others. As well as being easily identifiable, convergent lady beetles will usually flee when threatened.
If they do not withdraw and are touched lightly with a finger, they will release an unpleasant-smelling substance that smells like rotting coconuts (1).
The convergent lady beetle measures up to 3/4 inch long by 5/8 inch wide and is recognized by the red color and black spots on the wing cases (elytra). It lives in tallgrass prairies, with many different types of flowers.
8. Twenty-Spotted Lady Beetle
The Twenty-Spotted Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is the most invasive ladybug species and can be found worldwide. It’s larger than other species and has more spots on its back and wings. The head is black with a white neck.
And while they don’t bite, they might produce a foul smell if you handle them too much. One way to avoid this is by using gardening gloves when harvesting these bugs for use as a natural pesticide.
The Migratory Lady Beetle: The migratory lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) prefers colder climates and will stay active during wintertime as long as enough plants are left alive to eat!
They’re one of the most prominent types of ladybugs in America, with dark red heads and orange bodies that grow up to 1 cm long. They lay their eggs in clusters called ova scrapes.
You can find these beetles near wildflowers or woodland edges. To tell which type of ladybug you have, check out how many spots it has and how many stripes it has run down its back; the more, the better!
9. Asian Lady Beetle
The Asian Lady Beetle is an invasive pest that has become a problem for homeowners, farmers, and public health officials.
Originally from Asia, the beetle was first spotted in New Jersey in 1988 and has spread ever since. This bug prefers to live outside under leaves or other objects during the day and come out at night to eat plants or lay eggs.
The Asian lady beetle is considered a generalist predator and herbivore, meaning it will eat plants and insects.
In feeding on pollen or plant juices, they act as pollinators and help disperse seeds by eating flowers or fruiting bodies.
However, this also means that if enough beetles are present in one area, their feeding can kill certain plants.
To add insult to injury, the Asian Lady Beetle lays its eggs near where it eats, making them susceptible to pesticides.
These types of ladybugs in Georgia typically vary from red-orange coloration with two black spots behind each wing and six black spots along each side of its abdomen.
They are also covered in tiny hairs, which help them stay hydrated when their environment is dry.
10. Fifteen-Spotted Lady Beetle
The Fifteen-Spotted Lady Beetle is one of the most common and easiest ladybug species to identify. It has a black body with twelve spots, three on each side and two on the back. The spots are usually red but can sometimes be orange or yellow.
These ladybugs in Georgia can range from 1/4 up to 1/2 long. They are typically found near flowers, which they pollinate for food.
When they fly, their wings make a very distinct sound. Their bright colors easily identify the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle.
The underside and top part of its wing is a bright orange-red with white markings around them. It has fifteen spots on its back which can be yellow, black, or white.
The 15-spot Lady Beetles have been spotted flying indoors, so if you spot this type inside your house, it could mean that beetles have invaded your home.
But don’t worry! You don’t need an exterminator because these beetles will not harm your home.
11. Pink-Spotted Lady Beetle
The Pink-Spotted Lady Beetle, also called the Louisiana Pink Lady Beetle, was the first ladybug species native to North America.
It has an orange-red head and three black spots on each elytron (wing cover). It is slightly larger than other ladybug species found in Georgia.
The larvae are black, with two red spots on the back. Adults feed on aphids, scale insects, mealy bugs, and other pests. The main predators of this beetle are birds, such as chickadees and woodpeckers.
Humans prefer it to other types because they do not have a foul odor like different ladybug varieties. The beetle prefers plants that grow around human dwellings, and these habitats typically include flowers, crops, weeds, orchards, and forests.
They can be attracted by peppermint oil or banana peel baits; it is illegal for humans to use harmful pesticides near them so they will not eat them.
One way to identify if a species is the pink-spotted lady beetle is if there are two spots on its wings instead of three.
Conclusion
Ladybugs are a significant part of the insect world. They serve an essential purpose in controlling the population of other insects, and they’re just plain cute. But they can be hard to tell apart if you need to know what you’re looking for.
The most common types of ladybugs in Georgia are the convergent ladybug, which has a reddish-orange head with two black spots on it; the non-convergent ladybug, which is red with black spots on its back; and the spotted ladybug, which is red with black and white spots on its back. If you come across a ladybug and want to identify it, first find out where it’s from.
If it’s from your backyard or garden, take some time to get familiar with their behavior patterns so that the next time you see one on your plants or outside your window, you’ll know exactly what type of bug this is!
