Asian lady beetles look nearly identical to ladybugs except for a few subtle differences, and one telltale sign. First, lady beetles are slightly larger than typical ladybugs. Both species are red with black spots, but the lady beetle has some variation in shade from red to orange. On a ladybug, these markings are nearly totally black, save for one white spot on either side of the head. The best way to combat the Asian lady beetle is, as always, preventative maintenance. In other words: Keep them outside , especially in late August or early September when the weather is still warm.
Make certain all screens, doors and windows are sealed properly. Pay particular attention to chimneys, vents, siding, utility wires, and any other route these pests could use to gain entry to your warm abode.
The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Photo via Shutterstock. Ladybugs are the stuff of legends and children's books, but they are very real. The only thing imaginative about ladybugs is their name. Today, the terms ladybug and lady beetle are both commonly used, although lady beetle is more scientifically accurate.
That's because in reality, ladybugs aren't bugs at all; they are beetles. Basically, all ladybugs are actually lady beetles, because they aren't bugs at all. They are beetles, which are an order of the insect class of animals. Other orders of insects include true bugs; butterflies and moths; bees, ants and wasps; flies; and dragonflies and damselflies. Many species of lady beetles are common in our area. Some ladybug species are native to the United States, but many are non-native and invasive, originally from Asia, according to The Spruce.
Native lady beetles are harmless to humans and can be beneficial because they eat garden pests like aphids, according to The Spruce. On the other hand, many are invasive and can be aggressive and sometimes bite.
Seal and discard the vacuum bag after collecting beetles. To save on vacuum bags, you can also secure a nylon stocking around the exit end of the hose, using a rubber band. Remove the stocking immediately after turning off the vacuum, seal it closed with the rubber band or by knotting the end, and discard it.
Black light traps are effective for attracting and killing Asian lady beetles indoors, particularly in attics and other dark, enclosed areas. You can purchase traps suitable for this use or even make a DIY light trap using basic materials. Make sure the trap's light is the only light in the room so that beetles are attracted to it and not to other lights.
Check and clean the trap regularly, especially when the infestation is heavy. Various consumer-grade insecticide sprays are sold for killing Asian lady beetles. The same sprays are also likely to be effective for boxelder bugs, Japanese beetles , flies, cockroaches, ants, and other pest insects.
Sprays are typically applied indoors or outdoors, in cracks and crevices, in storage areas, around window and door frames, and anywhere you find the beetles gathering. Asian lady beetles do not reproduce indoors, so you don't have to worry about targeting nests, as with ants. They may, however, return to the same place the next season.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when applying insecticide, especially indoors and where children or pets may be present. Asian lady beetles spend the warmest months of the year in outdoor feeding sites, including forests, wild and cultivated fields, and yards and other landscaped areas. When the weather turns cool in autumn, they leave the feeding areas in search of winter shelter.
A few factors tend to stimulate this flight for shelter and attract beetles to specific sites:. The best way to control Asian lady beetles in your home is through pest-proofing measures to keep them from entering.
These include sealing any cracks around windows, doors, utility wires, and pipes, and vents, as well as gaps or cracks in the siding, eaves, and foundation. It also is important to be sure that all doors and windows are tightly fitted and that screens are not torn or ripped. Insecticides applied around doors, windows, and other entry points like cracks and crevices can help keep beetles from entering the home. These must be applied before the beetles come into the home; they are not effective once the bugs are inside.
Gardeners seeking to introduce beneficial insects should take care not to purchase and distribute ladybugs from commercial sources because the ladybugs may be the Asian variety. While some "safe" species are sold, including Hippodamia convergens convergent ladybug , Adalia bipuntata red ladybug , and Coleomegilla maculata spotted ladybug , these insects may have been harvested in the wild to offer for sale, which is a questionable practice.
A better strategy is to practice gardening methods that encourage native ladybug species to visit your garden. Ladybugs are not true bugs, but rather a group of some 6, types of small beetles that share a similarity in markings: orange or scarlet shells with black spots.
These insects are more accurately called lady beetles. Most of the species are considered beneficial insects, since they feed on agricultural pests such as aphids and scale insects.
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