I just vacuumed up a bunch of ladybugs.

I am being overrun with the things, they are everywhere inside the house and sunning on the exterior walls. I am going to take the vacuum out to the back of my property & HOPE the surviving bugs don't return. Yesterday it was in the 70's and up by the road they were literally swarming, thousands of ladybugs. I hate to kill them but when they are crawling all over me & in my hair it is uncomfortable. I even had a couple decide to go swimming in my coffee pot this morning.

I guess it's the price of country living. I have never used any pesticides on my yard or anywhere else. My neighbors don't "manicure" their lawns or worry about the "perfect" lawn. When you don't spread poison insects thrive.

We've got 'em bad here, too. I've heard that they're protected,ie you're not supposed to kill the dratted things.

It's almost certainly the Asian ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis that has become quite common in the U.S. because it's sold as a biocontrol agent for gardeners. They are neither threatened nor endangered in any way, and in fact are introduced insects that many consider borderline invasives in their own right.

Anyway, there is absolutely no reason not to treat them as pests when they invade human structures. It's aggregative overwintering behavior.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis

They were terrible when we lived out in the country--swarming in the windows, on the porch, in the eaves of the roof, and on the exterior walls. Ugh. I loved living in "the country," but I hated those things. They have bites that actually hurt, unlike "normal" ladybugs, and are bigger than our indigenous species. The Asian variety was introduced about ninety years ago to control aphids, and they have started growing out of control in recent years.

There CAN't be any aphids around here with the population we have.

Our native ladybird beetles are usually bright red. The Asian ones are orange/yellow/brown more than red. Be careful--they can secrete a nasty-smelling fluid that will stain your walls. Trying spraying them off the house with a garden hose, if you can. They're a real nuisance.

I don't know much about them but they sure are friendly little suckers. They just love hanging out on me.

on the outside and inside of our house, too. It happens about once every five years it seems. It's a little annoying but it beats other critters that could have invaded. I really don't mind them so much.

My house is a light grey color, door on the south side. It is an open invitation for lady bugs apparently.

which I had happen recently. I will not harm ladybugs, and they eat aphids too.

I don't mind them too much but they like crawling in my hair, on my ears ect.....

I guess I ought to just ignore them til they settle down for the winter.

It's usually on a warm day. She lives in the country, too. Once, she had invited loads of people over for a dinner. When we arrived, we could see the clouds of ladybugs on the opposite side of the house. When we got out of our cars, they swarmed around us. At one point, I laughed "out loud" and got a few in my mouth. When we got into the house, we were all "vacuuumed". I laugh every time I think about it. They're harmless and cute; I guess that's why we didn't think it was horrible.

my mom apparently found out why.. for some reason they're attracted to white or light buildings. our house is white, so that might explain it. :shrug:

They're welcome in my place to a point, but I'd toss them outside in a glass before vacuuming them up

x(





(Yes I have a two year old. Google 'ladybug picnic' if you have no idea what I'm yammering on about)