[Objectives]  This study aims to determine the predation of Menochilus sexmaculata against Thrips hawaiiensis and to evaluate the potential use of the ladybugs in thrips control programs. [Results]  Laboratory experiments were performed to study the functional response, searching efficiency and interfere response of M. sexmaculata to T. hawaiiensis. [Results]  The predation of M. sexmaculata showed the Holling-type II functional responses against the thrips. The 4^th-instar larvae and adult of M. sexmaculata showed the highest predation capacity to 2^nd-instar nymph of T. hawaiiensis, with a'/T_h for 578.04 and 1 852.80 individuals, with 1/T_h for 400.00 and 2 000.00 individuals per day, respectively. The predation rate of M. sexmaculata was positively related with prey densities of T. hawaiiensis, while its searching efficiency was negatively associated with prey densities. Furthermore, the elder larvae and adult of M. sexmaculata were more effective in searching for their preys than other predator ages. The predation on T. hawaiiensis was significantly influenced by the predator density of M. sexmaculata, showing that the predation rate decreased with increasing the predator density. This suggests that the interfere response exists in the predation of M. sexmaculata on T. hawaiiensis, and this could be described by Hassell-model equation. [Conclusion]  These findings represent that M. sexmaculata exhibit a great potential for its use in control of this special thrips pest, providing a scientific basis on biological control programs and nature enemy protection.