This is one of the most variable species of ladybirds in the world, with an exceptionally wide range of color forms.
It is native to eastern Asia, but has been artificially introduced to North America and Europe to control plant lice.
There are many colour pattern varieties of the Harlequin Ladybird.
Three of the most common morphological forms of Harmonia axyridis found in Europe are:
- Harmonia axyridis conspicua (black with 2 red/orange dots), 
- Harmonia axyridis spectabilis (black with 4 red-orange dots) and
- Harmonia axyridis succinea (red/orange with 0 up to 19 dots).

1st photo: Harmonia axyridis form conspicua, Zanderij Crailo, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 24 June 2013
2nd photo: Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis, Zanderij Crailo, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 24 June 2013
3rd photo: Harmonia axyridis form succinea, Sarsveld en De Banen, The Netherlands, 7 May 2012
4th photo: Harmonia axyridis form succinea, Spandersbos, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 10 July 2017
5th photo: Left is a Harlequin Ladybird larva and right a pupa: stages in the development that look nothing like the adult form, Maarsseveen, The Netherlands, 3 October 2011