ladybugs - Ask Extension
There are thousands of what I think are ladybugs on trees in south Eugene area but neighbor says they are Japanese beetle, which I hear are the destru...
Knowledgebase
ladybugs #924177
Asked February 03, 2026, 11:42 AM EST
There are thousands of what I think are ladybugs on trees in south Eugene area but neighbor says they are Japanese beetle, which I hear are the destructive type. I have included photo. Could it be the Japanese beetle?
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi!
What a neat find! Thanks for sharing the photo!
I can't see enough detail in that photo to say that they are ladybugs for sure, but that is what they look like to me too. A certain ladybug species that is present in Oregon and throughout most of North America (Hippodamia convergens) is pretty famous for making these kinds of large overwintering congregations.
Here is a link to a photo of a congregation of these ladybugs for comparison...
https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/1741593
If you are near the tree and the congregation is still there, you could double-check to see if the beetles have red-orange wing covers with black spots.
Hope that helps!
Yours,
What a neat find! Thanks for sharing the photo!
I can't see enough detail in that photo to say that they are ladybugs for sure, but that is what they look like to me too. A certain ladybug species that is present in Oregon and throughout most of North America (Hippodamia convergens) is pretty famous for making these kinds of large overwintering congregations.
Here is a link to a photo of a congregation of these ladybugs for comparison...
https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/1741593
If you are near the tree and the congregation is still there, you could double-check to see if the beetles have red-orange wing covers with black spots.
Hope that helps!
Yours,
