There are 18 species of lady beetle in the Hippodamia genus, one of which is introduced. You may be most familiar with the Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens), a species frequently sold to release in gardens and known to spend the winter in hibernation in groups of thousands of individuals. Both the “alligator-shaped” larvae and adults in this genus prey on aphids. You will typically find them near their food source, but they may enter buildings in colder weather.
Size: Length 3.75 to 5.6 mm
Photo by: Glenn Marangelo on 8/15/21 near Condon, MT