Another of my 10 ladybug/ladybirds, the convergent lady beetle, in my Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage) models... this ladybug is the most common species in North America. It is found throughout North America, but have also been imported and established in South America. In the western United States, these beetles may spend up to nine months in diapause in large aggregations in mountain valleys, far from their aphid food sources. In spring, the adults spread out and search for suitable sites to lay their eggs where aphids are plentiful. This dispersal trait is especially marked in this species as compared to other lady beetles. Aphids form their main diet. These beetles are also used for augmentative biological control to temporarily increase predator numbers to control aphids. The species is available commercially in North America, but because of the overwintering habits of non-reproductive adults, released beetles tend to quickly disperse from their release site. Adults released in enclosed settings such as greenhouses can contribute to lower aphid numbers.