Backyard and Beyond

Harmonia axyridis is found everywhere now. Mugwort is a good place to find them. This is a vary variable beetle, variably spotted, even variably colored (although the red ones predominate). They are rounder and larger, in general, than native species. Introduced to North America about a century ago, they are invasive, bad news for native species and habitats.
Here’s the larval form, a late instar before pupation.
This is, I gather, the beginning of pupation.
A pupa.