Status

Endangered

"Endangered" means the species lives in the wild in Ontario but is facing imminent extinction or extirpation.

Date added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List

June 2, 2017

Read the assessment report (PDF)

What it looks like

The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle is a small beetle that ranges between 1.7 and 7 mm in size. Their wing covers are pale orange to red, with a dark line where the two wing covers meet. They generally have nine black spots on their wing covers, but the size and number of these spots can vary.

Where it lives

The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle is able to live in a wide variety of areas including agricultural areas, suburban gardens, parks, coniferous forests, deciduous forests, prairie grasslands, meadows, riparian areas, and isolated natural areas.

Where it’s been found in Ontario

Nine-spotted Lady Beetle was once found throughout southern Ontario and as far north as the eastern shores of Lake Superior. Since the mid-1990s, there have been no records of this species in Ontario. Given the lack of recent records the species may be extirpated, however, it is also possible that individuals or small populations have been overlooked in parts of its range.

What threatens it

The specific cause of decline in the Nine-spotted Lady Beetle is unknown. Possible threats to this species include the introduction of non-native lady beetles, such as the Seven-spotted Lady Beetle and the Multi-coloured Asian Lady Beetle, which may compete with them for food and other resources or introduce diseases. Other possible threats include agricultural use of pesticides or chemicals to control the insect species they eat (aphids), and loss of habitat caused by urban expansion, abandonment of farmland, and other human disturbances.

Action we are taking

Endangered species and their general habitat are automatically protected.

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy advises the ministry on ways to ensure healthy numbers of the species return to Ontario.

Read the executive summary and full document (May 30, 2018).

Government response statement

A government response statement outlines the actions the government intends to take or support to help recover the species.

Read the government response statement (February 28, 2019)

What you can do

Report a sighting

Volunteer

  • Volunteer with your local nature club or provincial park to participate in surveys or stewardship work focused on species at risk.

Be a good steward

  • Private land owners have a very important role to play in species recovery. If you find Nine-spotted Lady Beetle on your land, you may be eligible for stewardship programs that support the protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitats.

Report illegal activity

Quick facts

  • The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle was once found throughout Ontario but has not been seen in the province since the mid-1990's.
  • It has been suggested that this species was once one of the most commonly encountered lady beetle species in Ontario.