The Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis (Pallas)) is a common species that seeks shelter in which to hibernate during the winter. They will gather by the thousands in wall voids, attics, crawl spaces and any other place of shelter. On warm winter days after cool nights, these ladybugs "wake up" and fly around, seeking food. Sometimes, they find their way outdoors and sometimes they enter the interior of the structure. If indoors, these insects seek out windows and lights as they try to escape.

Asian lady beetles vary in color from pale orange to deep red and may or may not have black spots. They carry an irregular "M" shape on their heads.

Asian lady beetles were introduced into the U.S. as early as the 1900's to control insect pests in trees. Today, they are found throughout the United States in varying concentrations.

These beetles feed in trees during warm weather and produce small, alligator-like larvae (upper left, photo by Penn State University) that are as voracious as the parents. When mature, the larvae produce small orange pupal cases (lower left, photo by Penn State University) that can be found adhered to homes, leaves and other solid surfaces.