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Asian Lady Beetles

lady bug impersonators

For the past few years many homeowners have been pestered by what many believe are Lady bugs. These pesky culprits are not Lady Bugs they are Asian beetles ‘Harmonia axyridis’. They have become a homeowners worst nightmare. Lady beetles do not attack wood, food or clothing but are a nuisance to homeowners when they are swarming or in an active state. Although Asian beetles are beneficial predators that eat scales, aphids, insects and many other garden and agricultural pests, the The Lady bug look-a-likes have become a horrible pests. As temperatures warm in late winter and early spring the beetles become extremely active. Also swarms of lady beetles typically fly to buildings in September – November depending on weather conditions. The pesky beetles were first recorded as a pest for homeowners in 1988 in Louisiana. There are several different versions of when and where the Asian lady bug or beetle first came to the states. They have reportedly spread all the way to Canada. One version is that they had been released in the mid 1900s as a biological control agent. Large numbers of the beetles were released in several states including Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland. The second version is that it came over on a freighter from Asia, as a stowaway in packing material.

D. Cappaert, MSU, bugwood.org

Large populations of this beetle tend to be found on windows, walls, doors, attics and porch decks as well as in the walls of buildings. It has been recorded that some lady beetles living up to 2 or 3 years. Many beetles end up indoors in search of over wintering sites. These multi-colored pests do bite and often emit a noxious odor and yellowish staining fluid before dying. Multi-spotted beetles tend to be females while those with few or no spots tend to be males. Most beetles have a small, dark or W-shaped marking on the whitish area located behind their head.

Asian lady beetles appear to have few natural enemies. If you have ever tried to kill one of these varmints you noticed they have a natural defense against predators, the beetles secrete a foul smelling yellowish fluid from their leg area. Once the beetles are indoors, the easiest way to remove them is with a vacuum cleaner. You can sweep them up with a broom but is more likely to result in staining when they emit their yellowish secretion. Lady beetles can get inside using gaps of 1/8 inch or less! Basically all you can do is seal your window frames and any cracks or openings with caulk. There are many chemical methods for ridding your home of these pests, check a local nursery or your local extension office to see what is safe for your area.

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