It is found throughout Mexico and the eastern United States, and is abundant in the wetter and more heavily irrigated areas west of the Rocky Mountains.

Adults are similar in appearance to other lady beetles, oval-shaped, approximately 6 to 7 millimeters long and bearing eight black spots on each elytron.

It does not cause significant crop damage in Guatemala and Mexico, but can be abundant in isolated areas of the western United States.

[2] Adults emerge from dormancy in late spring, and each female lays several hundred eggs in clusters of 50 to 75 on bean plant leaves.

[citation needed] The larvae are voracious feeders, and can inflict heavy damage on a field of bean plants during an infestation.

[2] The parasitoid wasp Pediobius foveolatus can be used as augmentative biological control against the Mexican bean beetle.