LADYBUG, LADYBUG, YOUR HOUSE IS INFESTED

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted November 15, 2004)

What should we do about all these little orange, dotted ladybugs? Seems to me they're taking over the earth.

Well, I did a little research.
First, they're not ladybugs. They're lady beetles. More precisely, they’re Multicolored Asian lady beetles.

And you don't need to do anything. They're good guys.
They were purposely introduced into this country years ago to combat aphids.
Some people still purchase the little critters to protect their gardens and plants.
Aphids, or plant lice, are not good guys..... except maybe to other aphids.

The reason we see so many lady beetles..... they've not yet acquired natural enemies to control their numbers.

Yes, they do invade our houses and garages.... but they're accidental invaders.
They're outdoor insects that become a nuisance when they wander indoors, looking for a place (especially bright colored walls) to ride out the winter.

Here's the good news. They don't feed or reproduce inside. They cannot attack the house structure, or furniture, or fabric.

They cannot sting or carry any diseases.
They don't bite..... well, they might..... and occasionally they might pinch exposed skin..... but they're really tiny and it won't hurt too bad.

The bad news is, they sometimes invade your space by the thousands!
And if you smash or crush them, they can leave a slimy smear and a distinct odor. In fact, that odor is what keeps predators, such as birds, from eating the lady beetles.

So don't smash them on upholstery or wallpaper. They can leave a stain. A vacuum cleaner might be your best weapon.

If you want to keep them out of your place, you need to do that in September, before they make their appearance in late October and early November. And that involves sealing all the small cracks around your place where they could get in.... and that ain't easy!

Bottom line...... a direct quote from the U-T Agricultural Education Service:
"Remember, these beetles are providing a service for us (killing pest aphids) and should not be killed whenever possible. Eventually, the beetle's population will exceed its food supply, or natural enemies may become more abundant, and the populations will crash or reach a lower level without our interference." End quote.

Meanwhile, I now consider them to be really tiny, low maintenance "pets".

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