Asian lady beetles mainly eat aphids and other small, soft-bodied insects. Outdoors, they are beneficial predators because they help control plant pests on flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and crops. They may also eat scale insects, mites, mealybugs, insect eggs, and tiny larvae. Indoors, Asian lady beetles usually do not eat much because they are hiding for winter. They do not eat wood, clothing, carpet, or furniture, but they can become a nuisance when they gather inside homes.
What Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Outdoors?
Asian lady beetles, also called multicolored Asian lady beetles, are predators. Their main diet is soft-bodied insects that feed on plants. This is why they were valued as biological control insects in gardens, orchards, farms, and landscapes.
University of Minnesota Extension explains that multicolored Asian lady beetles and other lady beetles feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage plants in crops, gardens, and landscapes.
Asian lady beetles commonly eat:
- Aphids
- Scale insects
- Mealybugs
- Mites
- Small insect eggs
- Tiny caterpillars
- Soft-bodied larvae
- Other small plant pests
They are often found where aphids are active. If you see Asian lady beetles on roses, milkweed, fruit trees, vegetables, or ornamental plants, they are probably hunting pests, not eating the plant itself.
Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Aphids?
Yes, Asian lady beetles eat aphids. Aphids are one of their most important foods. Aphids are small, soft insects that suck sap from plants. Heavy aphid infestations can curl leaves, weaken new growth, spread plant diseases, and leave sticky honeydew behind.
Asian lady beetles help by eating aphids in both adult and larval stages. University of Illinois Extension describes multicolored Asian lady beetles as voracious feeders and notes that their larvae can eat up to 370 aphids during development, while adults can consume up to 65 aphids per day.
| Food Item | Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat It? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Yes | One of their main foods |
| Scale insects | Yes | Common soft-bodied prey |
| Mealybugs | Yes | May feed on them on plants |
| Spider mites | Sometimes | Some lady beetles feed on mites |
| Small caterpillars | Sometimes | Usually tiny, soft-bodied ones |
| Leaves | Usually no | They hunt insects on leaves |
| Wood | No | They do not eat wood |
| Clothing | No | They do not eat fabric |
What Do Asian Lady Beetle Larvae Eat?
Asian lady beetle larvae eat many of the same pests as adult beetles. They are active hunters and often feed heavily on aphids. The larvae look very different from adults. Instead of being round and orange, they are long, dark, spiky, and somewhat alligator-like.
Penn State Extension explains that Asian lady beetle larvae use chewing mouthparts to feed on aphids during the first 12 to 14 days after hatching.
Larvae Food List
Asian lady beetle larvae may eat:
- Aphids
- Small larvae
- Insect eggs
- Scale insects
- Mites
- Mealybugs
- Other soft-bodied pests
Many gardeners mistake the larvae for harmful insects because they look rough and spiny. In most cases, larvae on aphid-covered plants are helping the garden.
Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Plants?
Asian lady beetles usually do not eat healthy plant leaves, stems, or flowers. They are mainly predators, not leaf-chewing pests. If you see them on plants, they are usually eating aphids, mites, scale insects, or other small insects living on the plant.
However, Asian lady beetles may sometimes feed on damaged fruit, fruit juices, pollen, or nectar when insect prey is scarce. This does not mean they are the same as Japanese beetles, which chew holes in leaves and flowers. Asian lady beetles are much more likely to be on plants because they are hunting pests.
Colorado State University Extension notes that lady beetle adults and larvae feed on pest insects and mites, especially aphids and scales.
Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Roses, Cucumbers, or Garden Plants?
If Asian lady beetles are on roses, cucumbers, squash, beans, milkweed, or fruit trees, they are probably feeding on pests. Aphids commonly attack roses and many vegetable plants. Asian lady beetles may gather there because food is available.
They do not normally chew cucumber leaves or rose petals. If your plant leaves have holes, skeletonized areas, or chewed edges, another pest may be responsible. Japanese beetles, caterpillars, slugs, cucumber beetles, or grasshoppers are more likely to damage leaves directly.
What to Check on Plants
Look closely for:
- Clusters of aphids on new growth
- Sticky honeydew on leaves
- Small scale insects on stems
- Webbing from mites
- Chewed holes from other pests
- Lady beetle larvae hunting near aphids
If aphids are present, Asian lady beetles may be helping reduce the infestation.
What Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat in the House?
Asian lady beetles usually eat very little inside the house. They enter homes in fall to overwinter, not to feed. Indoors, they may hide in attics, wall voids, window frames, ceiling corners, or behind trim. On warm days, they may become active and crawl toward windows or lights.
They do not eat household materials. Asian lady beetles do not feed on:
- Wood
- Drywall
- Carpet
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Stored grains
- Paper
- Bedding
If you see beetles indoors, they are usually just sheltering. The main problems are odor, stains, light biting, and large numbers.
What Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat in Winter?
In winter, Asian lady beetles mostly survive on stored energy. They hide in protected places and become less active. They may not feed much at all while overwintering.
When indoor heat or sunny windows warm them, they may become active and move around. This does not mean they are breeding or eating the house. They are simply responding to warmth and light.
During winter indoors, they may die from dehydration, lack of food, or stress. That is why you may find dead beetles near windowsills, baseboards, or light fixtures.
Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Wood, Clothes, or Carpet?
No, Asian lady beetles do not eat wood, clothes, carpet, or furniture. They are not like termites, carpet beetles, clothes moths, or wood-boring beetles. Their mouthparts are used for feeding on small insects and soft prey, not for chewing structural wood or fabrics.
If you notice fabric damage, holes in wool, damaged carpets, or larvae in stored clothing, carpet beetles or clothes moths may be the real issue. If you notice wood damage, termites, carpenter ants, or wood-boring beetles may be involved.
Asian lady beetles can stain surfaces with yellow defensive fluid, but staining is not the same as eating or destroying materials.
Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Other Ladybugs?
Asian lady beetles can compete with native ladybugs for food, especially aphids. In some cases, lady beetles may eat eggs or larvae of other lady beetles when food is limited. This kind of predation can happen among many lady beetle species.
However, adult Asian lady beetles are not usually hunting adult ladybugs as their main food. Their primary diet is still aphids and other soft-bodied plant pests.
This competition is one reason people worry about Asian lady beetles replacing or reducing native ladybug populations in some areas.
Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Ants, Spiders, Bed Bugs, or Ticks?
Asian lady beetles are not major predators of ants, spiders, bed bugs, or ticks. Their diet is focused mostly on soft-bodied plant pests.
They may occasionally eat very small insect eggs or tiny larvae if they encounter them, but they are not a reliable control method for household pests.
| Pest | Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat It? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Ants | Rarely | Not a normal main food |
| Spiders | No, usually not | Spiders may eat beetles instead |
| Bed bugs | No reliable control | Not a bed bug predator |
| Ticks | No | Not a tick-control insect |
| Mosquitoes | No | They do not catch flying mosquitoes |
| Carpet beetle larvae | Not reliable | Use proper carpet beetle control |
| Aphids | Yes | Main food source |
| Mealybugs | Yes | Common soft-bodied prey |
What Eats Asian Lady Beetles?
Asian lady beetles have natural enemies, but many predators avoid them because they can release a bitter, yellowish defensive fluid. This fluid smells unpleasant and makes them less appealing to eat.
Still, some animals may eat Asian lady beetles, especially if they are hungry or if beetles are easy to catch.
Possible predators include:
- Birds
- Spiders
- Assassin bugs
- Lacewing larvae
- Praying mantises
- Some wasps
- Frogs or toads
- Chickens
- Other predatory insects
Not every predator prefers them. Their bright colors warn predators that they may taste bad. This warning coloration helps them survive.
Can Chickens Eat Asian Lady Beetles?
Chickens may eat Asian lady beetles if they find them, but many beetles taste bad because of their defensive chemicals. A chicken may try one and avoid eating more.
A few beetles are unlikely to be a major issue for healthy chickens, but large numbers are not a good food source. If you have beetle clusters in a coop or shed, it is better to remove them by vacuuming or sweeping them out rather than relying on chickens to eat them.
Can Dogs or Cats Eat Asian Lady Beetles?
Dogs and cats should not be encouraged to eat Asian lady beetles. A curious pet may snap at them, but the beetles can release bitter defensive fluid that irritates the mouth.
If a dog or cat eats one or two beetles, serious harm is unlikely in most cases. However, eating many beetles may cause drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, or discomfort. Beetles can sometimes stick to the roof of a dog’s mouth if a pet tries to eat a cluster.
If your pet seems distressed, has beetles stuck in the mouth, vomits repeatedly, or acts sick, contact a veterinarian.
Can Bearded Dragons or Reptiles Eat Asian Lady Beetles?
Asian lady beetles are not recommended as feeder insects for bearded dragons or other pet reptiles. Wild beetles may carry pesticides, parasites, or defensive chemicals. Their bitter fluid can irritate animals, and they are not a safe staple feeder.
For pet reptiles, use approved feeder insects such as appropriately sized crickets, dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae, or other feeders recommended by a reptile veterinarian or experienced reptile keeper.
Can Humans Eat Asian Lady Beetles?
Humans should not eat Asian lady beetles. They are not a food insect, and they can release bitter defensive chemicals. Accidentally swallowing one is unlikely to cause serious harm for most people, but it may taste bad and could irritate the mouth or stomach.
If a child eats several beetles or develops symptoms, contact poison control or a medical professional for advice.
Are Asian Lady Beetles Poisonous If Eaten?
Asian lady beetles are not considered highly poisonous like some toxic insects, but they are not safe or pleasant to eat. Their defensive fluid can taste bitter, smell bad, and irritate the mouth or stomach of pets or people.
The bigger risk is when pets eat many of them or get beetles stuck in the mouth. Dogs are the most commonly mentioned concern because they may bite at clusters near windows or doors.
Why Their Diet Matters in the Garden
Asian lady beetles are a mixed blessing. Their appetite for aphids makes them useful outdoors, but their habit of entering homes makes them annoying indoors. Understanding what they eat helps you decide whether to leave them alone or remove them.
In the garden, Asian lady beetles may help control aphids naturally. Indoors, they are not helping because they are not feeding on pests inside the home. If they are in the house, vacuum them gently and seal entry points to prevent more from entering.
FAQs
What do Asian lady beetles eat most?
Asian lady beetles eat mostly aphids and other soft-bodied plant pests. They may also eat scale insects, mites, mealybugs, insect eggs, and tiny larvae.
Do Asian lady beetles eat plants?
Asian lady beetles usually do not eat healthy plants. If they are on plants, they are probably hunting aphids, mites, or scale insects.
What do Asian lady beetles eat in the house?
Asian lady beetles usually eat little or nothing inside the house. They come indoors to overwinter, not to feed on wood, clothing, carpet, or furniture.
What eats Asian lady beetles?
Some birds, spiders, wasps, assassin bugs, praying mantises, frogs, toads, and chickens may eat Asian lady beetles, but many predators avoid them because they taste bad.
Can dogs or cats eat Asian lady beetles?
Dogs and cats should not eat Asian lady beetles. One or two may not cause serious harm, but eating several can cause drooling, vomiting, mouth irritation, or discomfort.
