(Some gardeners even try toattract ladybugs.)
It is not ideal to kill lady beetles, and this should be avoided whenever possible.
It is when certain types of lady beetles moveinsidethat they can become a problem.
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The lady beetles that infest the interior of homes are also more likely to bite.
While their bites are rare and are not likely to cause harm, they can be irritating.
Read on for everything you should probably know about dealing with ladybugs indoors.
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What Does a Ladybug Look Like?
Luckily, there are a number of ways to tell these pests apart.
Start by determining which lady beetle you are dealing with, then formulate a plan of control.
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Harlequin Ladybirds (Asian Lady Beetles)
These pests range widely in color and markings.
SomeAsian lady beetlesare yellow or tan, others are orange, some are deep red.
These insects are slightly larger than most native ladybird species with a more oblong shape.
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Their faces and mouths are more pointy than native ladybirds, and they can bite if provoked.
They will sometimes show up in the thousands, covering the walls and floors of certain houses.
Worth mentioning is that they also secrete a terrible-smelling, yellowish-brown liquid from their leg joints when threatened.
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This secretion can cause odor as well as staining when released inside.
Some people may also have an allergic reaction when exposed to dead Asian lady beetles indoors.
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Native Ladybirds
Native ladybirds are typically red or orange in color.
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Native ladybugs are harmless and incrediblybeneficial,given that they consume irritating and harmful garden pests.
Native ladybirds shelter outdoors when the weather becomes cold and do not tend to congregate in excessively large numbers.
It may seem simple, but this is a great way to remove these pests from inside your home.
Stick with the vacuum and you won’t have this issue.
Chemical should never be a first resort, and it is never a primary defense.
Indoor treatments are not typically ideal for overwintering ladybugs, especially once the issue is already established inside.
Preventative measures such as sealing up entry points and vacuuming are much safer and effective.
Treatment must be done before pests enter the home in the fall and winter.
This can include homes and buildings, which are most commonly invaded in the months of September through November.
They are especially drawn to light including the light reflected off of white paint.
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What Causes Ladybugs?
Native ladybirds are common all over the world, but Harlequin ladybirds are, too.
You may also see them emerging in the spring when overwintering is finished.
If you wait too long, the treatment will not be effective.
There are various species of ladybugs world wide.
Ladybugs typically live at peace with humans, minding their business outside and not causing many serious issues.
The main problem is when large numbers of invasive Harlequin ladybirds overwinter inside homes and structures.
Large numbers of these insects can be incredibly bothersome inside homes and businesses.
Multicolor Asian Ladybeetle.Plant & Pest Diagnostics, Michigan State University.
Multicolored Asian lady beetles.University of Minnesota Extension.
Asian Lady Beetle Infestation of Structures.Entomology at the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
