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From my research I have figured out that my new, 4-5' honeycrisp apple tree has tons of Asian lady beetles (if you think they are something else, please let me know)on a new bud and new leaves. Actually I just found them on my 5-6' fuji as well. With the research I couldn't determine if they were going to hurt my tree or not. I just saw that they eat aphids. If they are bad for the tree, how do I get rid of them? Thank you

The photo is not clear and I can't tell what they are. But fwiw -- my apple tree ...well all my fruit trees... get aphids on them in spring and then the ladybugs come and eat them. Soon, they begin to lay eggs (yellow egg clusters) and then the ladybug larvae start scurrying all over... by then rest of the aphids are infested by aphid mummy maker wasps and are turned into tan husks.

I would try and get a better picture of them if you can.
It's nice to be sure of exactly what you've got.

Here's a better picture.

NOT Asian Ladybeetles. Yours looks kind of like the Parenthesis -- top right corner of the chart -- if the head was black. Are others light colored heads like in your photo? Ladybugs marks are not fully colored when they first hatch....

Subject: LADY BEETLE/LADYBUG, Garden Patrol Aphid, etc. Specialist

applestar wrote:
https://amorphophallus.files.wordpress.c ... mes_sm.jpg


I saw the Parenthesis the other day on the Hazel bush.

Side note: Are Asian Lady Beetles and Ladybugs not two different bugs? I was under the impression ALB will bite if provoked.. ?

Different species.

...what about American?

Species Hippodamia americana - American Lady Beetle - BugGuide.Net
https://bugguide.net/node/view/369385

Apparently, location is important if possible H.parenthesis

Ladybird Beetle discovered in California produce - Hippodamia parenthesis - BugGuide.Net
https://bugguide.net/node/view/239213

tarsal claws
According to Gordon (1), H. parenthesis west of the Mississippi is easily confused with H. lunatomaculata.
The tarsal claws must be examined with the tooth being "closely appressed" on H. parenthesis. East of Mississippi, no confusion.

I sometimes wish I'd never said anything.!
It's amazing once you start to really look into the full range of a species just how many there can turn out to be.
Fascinating though.

applestar wrote:NOT Asian Ladybeetles. Yours looks kind of like the Parenthesis -- top right corner of the chart -- if the head was black. Are others light colored heads like in your photo? Ladybugs marks are not fully colored when they first hatch....

Yes, they all have the same colored, light heads. So then they are good bugs to leave alone and in the apple trees?

We need positive ID if possible, though almost all lady beetles/ladybugs are beneficial, some are pests. As soon as you said the head is pale colored on all of them, I started to question the parenthesis ID....

Can you go to this link, try this and get back to us with the result? We can't see all of it in the photo --

Ladybug -- identification guide -- Discover Life
https://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?guide=Ladybug
Specially developed for the Lost Ladybug Project, an online pictorial key - still under development.

Check boxes for all that apply. If uncertain, skip character or select several states. Then click on any search button.
Navigate with above index or scroll bar.

(JONA -- what was that you said? )

Do you think they look like this one?

Ladybug -- identification guide -- Discover Life
https://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?guide=Ladybug

Psyllobora vigintimaculata (Say, 1824:96)
TWENTY-SPOTTED LADY BEETLE
Twenty-spotted ladybug
Overview
"The only northeastern North American species of Psyllobora, P. vigintimaculata, is a small (2-3mm), yellowish species that occurs across the continent from Labrador to Alaska and south to Mexico. Unlike most lady beetles, which are carnivores, Psyllobora species are mildew-feeders

applestar wrote:We need positive ID if possible, though almost all lady beetles/ladybugs are beneficial, some are pests. As soon as you said the head is pale colored on all of them, I started to question the parenthesis ID....

Can you go to this link, try this and get back to us with the result? We can't see all of it in the photo --

Check boxes for all that apply. If uncertain, skip character or select several states. Then click on any search button.
Navigate with above index or scroll bar.

It's the twenty spotted one. I have also now found powdery mildew on both trees, so I know why the bugs are there now at least.

This has been a great post...learn something every day.