[Aim]  To determine the biological characteristics of the ladybird, Harmonia sedecimnotata, feeding on Aphis craccivora under laboratory conditions, in order to provide basic dates to improve the mass-rearing of this species in captivity. [Methods]  A population life table for a captive population fed using controlled feeding was completed, and the effects of different temperatures on the growth and development of H. sedecimnotata were measured. In addition, the reproductive characteristics of the population at (26±1) ℃ are described. [Results]  Although all ladybirds could complete their life-cycle at temperatures in the range of 15-30 ºC, the development period of each stage shortened with increasing temperature. There were significant differences in the time required to develop from egg to adult at 15, 20, 25 and 30 ℃ (P<0.001), which were (42.30±1.21), (31.86±1.46), (18.59±0.89) and (15.73±0.87) d, respectively. The survival rates of 1st-4th instar larvae and pupae were highest at 25 ℃ (95.08%±1.76%, 96.18%±1.41%, 98.63%±0.97%, 94.63%±1.64% and 97.80%±1.81%, respectively) . There were significant differences in the survival rate of all life stages at 15, 20, 25 and 30 ℃ (P<0.001), which were 20.00%±2.72%, 41.11%±1.57%, 64.76%±2.93% and 48.89%±1.57%, respectively. The development threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature of a generation of H. sedecimnotata were 9.411 ℃ and 300.703 degree·days, respectively. The sex ratio of the experimental population was 0.51, the oviposition period was (79.56±63.59) d, the number of eggs laid per female was 1 289.89±724.70. The hatchability was 77.67%±2.49% and the number of trophic eggs was 10.67%±1.25%. There was a significant, positive correlation between fecundity and female longevity. The net reproductive rate (R₀), generation time (T), intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) and finite rate of increase (λ), were 633.933, 76.828, 0.084 and 1.088, respectively. [Conclusion]  H. sedecimnotata can complete its life-cycle and has relatively high reproductive capacity at temperatures in the range of 15 to 30 ℃. Consequently, this species should receive more consideration as a potential agent of biological control.