Don't Let Asian Lady Beetles Take Up Residence in Your Home
Many people believe that ladybugs are a symbol of luck. However, if you start to notice these red and black insects invading your home, you may want to take a closer look. These are most likely Asian Lady Beetles, who look similar to their beneficial ladybug cousins. Further inspection from the best pest control company at Lake of the Ozarks can determine the difference.
Asian Lady Beetles were purposely introduced from Asia in the latter half of the 1900's by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The lady beetles were released into Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maryland to control agricultural pests such as aphids and scale insects. They have since migrated so they are found throughout most of the U.S. These beetles spread quickly and soon the not-so-beneficial aspects of this species were realized.
Introduction of the Asian Lady Beetle
Asian Lady Beetles were purposely introduced from Asia in the latter half of the 1900's by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The lady beetles were released into Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maryland to control agricultural pests such as aphids and scale insects. They have since migrated so they are found throughout most of the U.S. These beetles spread quickly and soon the not-so-beneficial aspects of this species were realized.Bothersome Pests
The warmth of homes and buildings attract Asian Lady Beetles once temperatures lower in the fall. They tend to prefer homes with contrasting areas of light and dark colors. They move inside through crevices and gaps in the home's windows, walls, and foundation. Once inside, their presence becomes bothersome in several ways:
- Lady beetles will fly and crawl around rooms, and overwinter, essentially hibernate, inside homes. They will emerge throughout the winter and try to move outdoors come spring, but will remain trapped.
- As a means of communication, lady beetles release pheromones, an unpleasant odor to attract others. This lets them know they have found a place to "set up camp" for the winter. The chemical scent is very strong and can be detected by the species up to a 1/4 mile away. Scrubbing this off your home is nearly impossible, as it penetrates the interior walls as well as the outside structure.
- If disturbed, they emit a yellow fluid, which also contains pheromones. This is actually their blood and defense in a stressful situation. The blood smells bad and signals to a predator to choose a different prey. It is also disturbing for a home owner, because it stains walls and furniture yellow.
- Some people have been known to have allergic reactions to lady beetles. Especially in large infestations. Some known complications are cough, hay fever, asthma, hives, and eye problems, such as conjunctivitis ("pink eye").
- Asian Lady Beetles can be aggressive if they land on humans. Some can bite hard enough to break the skin. This may be a defensive mechanism or their tendency to seek moisture and food.
Prevention
Prevention is the most effective way to manage Asian Lady Beetles. To keep them out of your home, make sure to check the outside of your home for spaces and cracks where lady beetles could enter. This includes sealing any windows, doors, pipes, and vents that may be compromised. Repair or replace any damaged door screens. Lady Beetles can fit through openings as small as 1/8" in size. A good extermination company at Lake of the Ozarks can help you prevent large persistent infestations of these pests.
Best Pest Control
No job is too small for Best Pest Control. If you don't like lady beetles invading your home year after year, we have a solution for you. We can take care of this problem and prevent infestations in the future. We are dedicated to providing the BEST products and services.
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