US released Asian lady beetles to fight pests; decades later, they became invasive

The multicoloured Asian lady beetle was introduced to the United States with a clear purpose. Starting as early as 1916, agricultural officials released the insect, scientifically known as Harmonia axyridis, in an effort to control aphids, scale insects and other crop pests without relying as heavily on chemical insecticides. It was an appealing form of biological control, but the story took an unexpected turn. After the species established wild populations in the late 1980s, it spread rapidly across the country and beyond, becoming one of the world’s most successful invasive insects. According to reports by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, it can outcompete native ladybirds and is now regarded as an invasive species in many regions.An import meant to help farmersThe multicoloured Asian lady beetle is native to Asia, where it feeds on aphids and other soft-bodied arthropods.