Fourteen Spotted Lady Beetle and probably Polished Lady Beetle

Subject: Is this a native lady beetle?
Location: Londonderry, NH
July 6, 2012 12:35 pm
I found this in my pond. I noticed it because it was surrounded by water striders. I would have liked to get a picture of it with the water striders but I felt it would be cruel to leave it in the water any longer just for a photo opportunity. Were the water striders trying to eat it or just curious because they don’t see lady beetles in the water very often?
Since I can upload more than one photo I will also send you a picture of the yellow one I think my be a fourteen spotted, am I correct?
Signature: Laura

Fourteen Spotted Lady Beetle

Hi Laura,
The Fourteen Spotted Lady Beetle has been correctly identified.  According to BugGuide, it was :  “Accidentally introduced to North America during the 1960s via European ships stopping at ports along the St. Lawrence River (first reported near Quebec City in 1968).  From 1987 to 1993, more than half a million lab-reared P-14 lady beetles were released in 16 western states of the US in an attempt to control the Russian Wheat Aphid but follow-up surveys have not detected any established populations in the west.”  Your other Lady Beetle might be a spotless Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (see BugGuide), an introduction that has spread rapidly and much to the chagrin of homemakers, they often enter homes in great numbers to hibernate creating a nuisance of themselves.  

Possibly Polished Lady Beetle

Thank you for your identification help.
I was hoping it was a native.  I’ve developed a new interest in identifying lady beetles because of your website,
Laura

Update with Correction:  November 10, 2012
Comment:
Your second Lady Beetle is a Polished Lady Beetle (Cycloneda munda) (http://bugguide.net/node/view/187591) unless you are in western US or Canada. If so, it would be Western Blood-Red Lady Beetle (Cycloneda polita) http://bugguide.net/node/view/186684/bgimage.

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Location: New Hampshire