22 Types of Ladybugs in Michigan
Yes, Michigan has eight common ladybug species to identify, with the Asian Lady Beetle far more abundant than native species. Most observations happen June through August, when warm weather brings adults out of hiding. You can learn to tell them apart by color patterns, spot count, and body shape. The seven-spotted and fourteen-spotted species are among the most recognizable, while the introduced Asian Lady Beetle has become so common that it often dominates summer collections.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
- 8
- species recorded
- June, July, August
- peak months
Verified species, source iNaturalist
22 types of ladybugs recorded in Michigan
22 ladybug species have a verified observation record in Michigan, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
6 of the 22 shown are recorded as introduced to Michigan rather than native.
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Also recorded in Michigan
| # | Species | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Convergent Lady BeetleHippodamia convergens | Hippodamia convergens | 61 |
| 14 | Three-banded Lady BeetleCoccinella trifasciata | Coccinella trifasciata | 59 |
| 15 | Painted Lady BeetleMulsantina picta | Mulsantina picta | 35 |
| 16 | Transverse Lady BeetleCoccinella transversoguttata | Coccinella transversoguttata | 32 |
| 17 | 24-spot LadybirdIntroducedSubcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata | Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata | 26 |
| 18 | Mexican Bean BeetleEpilachna varivestis | Epilachna varivestis | 19 |
| 19 | Streaked Lady BeetleMyzia pullata | Myzia pullata | 19 |
| 20 | Ten-spotted SpurlegBrachiacantha decempustulata | Brachiacantha decempustulata | 17 |
| 21 | Thirteen-spotted Lady BeetleHippodamia tredecimpunctata | Hippodamia tredecimpunctata | 16 |
| 22 | Mealybug DestroyerIntroducedCryptolaemus montrouzieri | Cryptolaemus montrouzieri | 15 |
Plus 25 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations. Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
More on ladybugs in Michigan:
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
11,137 verified observations on iNaturalist of ladybug have been recorded in Michigan, most often in June, July, August.
When ladybug are recorded in Michigan
Yes, Michigan has eight common ladybug species to identify, with the Asian Lady Beetle far more abundant than native species. Most observations happen June through August, when warm weather brings adults out of hiding. You can learn to tell them apart by color patterns, spot count, and body shape. The seven-spotted and fourteen-spotted species are among the most recognizable, while the introduced Asian Lady Beetle has become so common that it often dominates summer collections.
Which ladybug species live in Michigan?
Eight species have been reliably recorded in Michigan according to iNaturalist observations. The Asian Lady Beetle leads by far with over 5,600 sightings, followed by the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle with 1,100 observations. The Spotted Pink Lady Beetle, Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Variegated Lady Beetle, Eye-spotted Lady Beetle, and Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle round out the community. Some species like the Spotted Pink are more common than others, but all eight occur regularly enough that patient observers can find them during peak season.
What does the Asian Lady Beetle look like?
The Asian Lady Beetle is highly variable in appearance, which confuses many people new to ladybug identification. Most individuals are orange-red to deep red with zero to fifteen spots, or they may have no spots at all. A key mark is the white pronotum (the shield behind the head) with a dark M or W pattern on it. Some specimens are solid black. Asian Lady Beetles are slightly larger and rounder than native species, and they have a voracious appetite for aphids, which is why they were originally imported to North America for pest control.
How do you identify a seven-spotted lady beetle?
The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle is one of the easiest to identify because it is so consistent. It has a glossy red or orange wing cover with exactly seven black spots arranged in a specific pattern, plus a white pronotum with a black spot on each side. This native European species has become well established in Michigan. If you count exactly seven spots in a neat arrangement on a red background, you have found a seven-spotted. They appear regularly in June and July, though less frequently than the Asian Lady Beetle.
What are the fourteen-spotted and fifteen-spotted species?
The Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle has a yellow or orange base color with fourteen small black spots. The Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle looks similar but with fifteen spots. Both are smaller than the seven-spotted and have a more crowded pattern of spots across their wing covers. These two species are easy to confuse with each other, but the spot count is the key. Both appear in Michigan during the warmer months, with the fourteen-spotted being slightly more common based on iNaturalist records.
When is the best time to see ladybugs in Michigan?
June, July, and August are the peak months for ladybug activity, with June recording over 3,000 observations and July nearly 2,300. April and May offer moderate activity as adults emerge from overwintering sites. September and October remain productive, though sightings drop off after October. Winter months from November through February show very few observations because ladybugs are in dormancy. If you want to find the greatest variety of species, focus your search during mid-June through August.
Where in Michigan do ladybugs gather?
Ladybugs thrive in gardens, parks, meadows, and anywhere with flowering plants and aphids to eat. They concentrate near tall grass, shrubs, and crop areas. The Michigan locations mentioned in the trunk guide, from the Upper Peninsula to Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks, all harbor ladybug populations during the right season. Urban and suburban yards with native plants attract them readily. Look on milkweed, thistle, and flowering trees like crabapple during peak months.
Do Asian Lady Beetles bite or cause problems?
Asian Lady Beetles can bite or pinch if handled roughly, though their bite is painless. In fall, they aggregate indoors seeking overwintering shelter, which many people find annoying. They also release a yellow defensive fluid that smells bad and can stain fabrics. Despite these drawbacks, they are beneficial predators of aphids and scale insects. In Michigan gardens, their presence usually means fewer pest insects, so most gardeners tolerate them.
What is the difference between the spotted pink and the eye-spotted lady beetle?
The Spotted Pink Lady Beetle is pink or reddish-pink with black spots, appearing delicate compared to most other species. The Eye-spotted Lady Beetle is orange to red with a distinctive black spot on each shoulder (near the front of the wing cover), resembling an eye. The two species are easy to separate once you know what to look for. Both are present in Michigan during the warm months, though neither reaches the abundance of the Asian or seven-spotted species.
What does the variegated lady beetle look like?
The Variegated Lady Beetle is orange to orange-red with variable black spotting that ranges from heavy to nearly absent. The pattern is never uniform from one individual to the next, hence the name 'variegated.' Its pronotum is white with two black spots. This species is a voracious predator of mites and small insects, making it a garden asset. You will find it in Michigan during June through September, especially in areas with abundant vegetation.
How can you tell a twice-stabbed lady beetle apart?
The Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle is small and mostly black with two or four white or red spots on its wing covers. It resembles a tiny dark beetle more than the colorful ladybugs most people imagine. This species feeds on scale insects and is particularly useful in orchards. In Michigan, it is the least commonly observed of the eight species but is still reliably present during the growing season.
Are there other ladybug species in Michigan that are rarer?
The eight species listed above represent the most common observed ladybugs in Michigan according to iNaturalist data. Occasionally, other species pass through or appear as rare vagrants, but they are not established. If you believe you have found an unusual species, checking your observation against photos of the eight documented species first is a good starting point. The abundance and consistency of these eight show they are Michigan's core ladybug community.
Frequently asked questions
What types of ladybugs live in Michigan?+
Eight species have been reliably recorded in Michigan according to iNaturalist observations. The Asian Lady Beetle leads by far with over 5,600 sightings, followed by the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle with 1,100 observations. The Spotted Pink Lady Beetle, Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Variegated Lady Beetle, Eye-spotted Lady Beetle, and Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle round out the community. Some species like the Spotted Pink are more common than others, but all eight occur regularly enough that patient observers can find them during peak season.
How do you tell ladybugs apart in Michigan?+
Eight species have been reliably recorded in Michigan according to iNaturalist observations. The Asian Lady Beetle leads by far with over 5,600 sightings, followed by the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle with 1,100 observations. The Spotted Pink Lady Beetle, Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Variegated Lady Beetle, Eye-spotted Lady Beetle, and Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle round out the community. Some species like the Spotted Pink are more common than others, but all eight occur regularly enough that patient observers can find them during peak season.
Which ladybug is most common in Michigan?+
Eight species have been reliably recorded in Michigan according to iNaturalist observations. The Asian Lady Beetle leads by far with over 5,600 sightings, followed by the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle with 1,100 observations. The Spotted Pink Lady Beetle, Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Variegated Lady Beetle, Eye-spotted Lady Beetle, and Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle round out the community. Some species like the Spotted Pink are more common than others, but all eight occur regularly enough that patient observers can find them during peak season.
Keep exploring
More places to see ladybug
More wildlife in Michigan
Common questions about ladybugs