We have sort of a ladybug infestation in our house. Well, infestation is not really the right word, because there aren’t that many of them – the problem is that they won’t leave no matter what we do.
They’re not the normal ladybugs – they’re a light orange or yellowish color instead of red. These are the ones that I’ve heard described as “oriental ladybugs” and, in Wisconsin, were said to be an introduced species that was going nuts (there would be literally swarms of them at certain times of the year). It’s not so bad here as that, though.
They’ve lived through several bug-bombs. I’m not really sure where they are – they seem localized entirely in one basement room (I’ve never seen them living or dead outside it). There are enough that there are five or six new dead ones on the carpet every week or so. There also seem to be a large number above the lights (we have those fluorescent lights with the ceiling panels many basements and office buildings have) because there get to be a lot of dead ones under the lights. I’ve only ever seen one living one after six months that I’ve been living in this room.
So what are these things, and how do I get rid of them? I don’t know what on earth they’re living on and why they’re localized in this area – there could be a path from the outside, but I haven’t noticed any other bugs except occasional spiders (pretty bug free for a basement room, otherwise).
Can’t tell you how to get rid of ‘em…I’ve had the same problem for the last coupla’ years. But here’s a little info about what they are and how/why we got 'em.
We had a widespread ‘plague’ of Ladybirds (which is what we call them here in the UK, for some reason; the US name makes more sense) back in 76 or 77; you couldn’t walk anywhere without stepping on them. In some places car accidents happened as a result of the vehicles skidding on a thick layer of the unfortunate creatures.
These were just the native insects, nothing unusual and I think it was caused by a number of natural factors just happening to coincide, as it never happened again to that scale.
I suspect they will be something in the room that is attracting them; either the lights (a lot of insects seem to find fluorescent lights irresistible) or the environmental conditions there (they could be trying to overwinter or something. Possibly the problem can be dealt with by changing the conditions or finding and blocking their point of entry.
The first thing you should do is check to see if it’s legal in your jurisdiction to kill them. In New York (and most other states, I believe) they are a protected species, and cannot be targeted with pesticides, at least by a professional exterminator. Your local cooperative extension could provide you with information on that.
This may be why bug bombs don’t work. While most pesticides are effective against a number of like pests, not every insecticide works on every insect. Speaking legally again, the label should tell you what insects the product is federally approved to treat. In that vein, it is a federal offense to use it on a different insect, even if it kills that insect. Believe it or not. In fact, every insecticide has a statement on the label to the effect that “It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.” In the industry, the catchphrase is, “The label is the law.” That means using it on ladybugs when the label doesn’t mention ladybugs is inconsistent with its labeling and therefore subjects you to possible federal prosecution. Not that this is likely to happen, especially to a non-professional, but facts is facts.
AFAIK, ladybugs don’t “nest” in the same way ants or bees do. I don’t believe they’re social insects. More likely they lay eggs in a variety of places. Said eggs hatch, metamorphose, and the adults just fly around independently. So finding a source is next to impossible. (This is probably another reason why the bomb didn’t work. They’re meant to kill the flying adults, not the eggs. So maybe you croaked some, but in a short while, a new generation hatched and the problem started all over again.)
If you’re experiencing a lot of live ones crawling around the windowsills and carpets and whatnot, just get a small hand-held vacuum, a la DustBuster[sup]TM[/sup], such them up, and dump them in your garden. They eat aphids, you know, and people who cultivate roses actually pay to receive ladybugs in the mail.
They are not Ladybugs. They are Japanese Soy Bean Aphid Beetles. 2001 was a good year for them–good crop of soy bean aphids, mild fall and winter. In the Midwest they are all over the place. Don’t squash them–they leave a yellow-orange stain. Go after them with a vacuum cleaner. Hope for an early severe winter next year, or a poor aphid crop.
Get yourself a few Venus Flytraps. Last year I introduced several hundred ladybugs (purchased from a garden nursery) into my various terrariums trying to overcome an aphid problem. To my great shock & horror, almost overnight virtually all the traps had caught a ladybug.
Oh, the humanity.
Note well: Venus Flytraps are very difficult to care for. They have strict soil, water, humidity & sunlight requirements. Don’t expect to have them for more than a few months unless you’re prepared to learn how to take care of them.
Hmmm. I can’t think why on earth it would be illegal to kill them – as even the Master said, they’re an introduced species, and there are swarms of them at that.
I don’t think this is just a winter thing – we’ve had a very mild winter, and besides which the problem was already around when I moved into this room last July. However, it has seemed to get worse during the winter months.
As I said, I’ve only ever seen one living one (which I put outside).
No idea how they’re getting in – it seems odd that they’re localized entirely in one room.
I wasn’t thinking of calling an exterminator – does anyone know of any home remedies or anything like that?
I’m hoping the problem will go away come spring, but I’m not holding my breath. Thanks for all the responses!
I think that DAVEW0071’s statement that it’s illegal to kill ladybugs may come from the superstition that it’s bad luck to kill them. I would be interested in a cite for this.
Ladybugs are actually pretty useful to have around–they eat some types of bugs which tend to bother plants. However, I can see why you might not want tons of them in the house. Maybe you could buy a tarantula?
It sounds like they’re not your typical ladybug, though, so who knows?
Here’s an old thread on the subject. I know there was another one too, but I couln’t find it. Here in California, I’ve only ever seen the sweet, non-biting, non-sickening smell kind.
