Help My house is being attacked by Lady Bugs

They are crawling all over everything. Is this a local event? I am in North Texas. Have the bugs revolted? Is this happening any where else?

I have them too (TN). Maybe its a "red state" thing

Ladybugs kill the bad critters that eat your plants.

put them in your freezer and in spring you will have a head start on aphids.
Watch out when you release them they are hungry and will bite you too.

It happened to me too several years ago. I don't know where they came from; it was like they just showed up in the thousands. It freaked me out until I found out that they are perfectly harmless. At one point I was taking at least 20 of them out of my house a day. I used to vacuum them up, but then realized that they would find their way out of the vacuum and back into the house, so then I just started either picking them up and flushing them down the toilet or else down the sink drain. Finally, over time, they began to decrease, but even now I still get a few from time to time. Believe me, there are much worse infestations that you could have. Be thankful they are only ladybugs!

That and cluster flies.

What you are seeing is the annual migration of Asian Lady Beetles to find a place to hibernate during the winter. These critters were imported from Asia a couple decades ago to help eat aphids on crops, so they are not all that bad. But they like to hibernate under tree bark, and some are using houses as a substitute. They tend to congregate on the south sides of buildings, and then try to find a way inside. Since these beetles bite and stink to high heaven if crushed or when they die, its a good idea to take some preventative measures. Here's what is recommended (taken from memory, but I did read all this in a pest control magazine):

1. Caulk and seal any cracks and crevices in your home.
2. Make sure screens are in place.
3. Vaccuum up any lady beetles that get inside. Seal in the vaccuum bag and dispose of them.
4. Since the beetles will stain things if crushed, don't step on them.


Realize that the critters are just looking for a place for their winter's nap. If possible, when you capture them in the vaccuum bag, let them loose near a field or someplace away from houses so that they can continue their beneficial work next season.

These are the tips we give our pest service customers. Hope they help you as well. And no, my pest company is 100% Democratic and don't like DeLay at all!

Accept your good fortune.

Asian lady bug. Import brought over to control aphids.

Just keep a dust buster around to vac em up. Insecticides will not do any good.

What they are doing is crawling into cracks to overwinter. In China they crawl into cracks in the rock and freeze, which preserves them for spring. Those that get into the house will dessicate in a short time due to a lack of water (aphids). Expect to be vacuuming up a bunch come spring.

...is a mixture of Dawn and water in a spray bottle. Spray the little buggers and the mixture will kill them.

I have a cedar sided house and they try to get under the siding, so I have to get rid of them...this method works the best.

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

Hi. We had this problem in my parents condo. I think they are looking to hybernate. We just scooped them up and let them outside.

Try this page for more info
http://www.ladybuglady.com/LadybugsFAQ.htm

Meg

and I'm in Missouri.

They sell ladybugs at Home Depot, great for the yard.

As a child we were always told it was lucky to find a ladybug. Let us know if your luck changes. Anyway, ladybugs are only a positive thing.

I have close to fifty plants so I'm actually happy when they come around...

I'm getting tired of the two-year-old yelling, "Mom, there's a bug for you to get!" I'd rather just throw them out, but he wants them carted outside. Grrrrr.

spray our whole house on the outside and it takes care of lady bugs,spiders,flies,and everything else that crawls. It's wonderful. We can sit out on our deck and not be bothered by insects. The spray lasts for 3 months and we usually have it done in mid Sept. It costs $80 plus tax and it is well worth the money.

... and sell some to Better Homes and Gardens. :)