I’ve been tenderized. Over the past week, about 5 large, itchy, painful welts have sprung up on my body. I’ve also been harbouring Asian Ladybugs in my room for the past two years or so (I must have brought them over one time, and find their yellow spotted carcasses every now and then). Up until today, I didn’t connect the two. I couldn’t figure out where the bites were from, but I figured fleas from a friend’s pet. Then I googled ladbugs+bite.
What the hell? They DO bite. I feel like I’ve been lied to all these years, about how they’re so garden friendly, loving mothers, etc.
Has anyone ever experienced this? My google hits seem to paint it as a rare occurrence and last resort. And how do I get rid of the little feckers now that I hate them?
That’s a new one on me. They have teeth?
Those aren’t the ladybugs you grew up with.
Real ladybugs don’t bite. The little Asian boogers are recent imports, and have been showing up in huge numbers the past few years, and those little bastards DO bite. And they also leave stinky yellow stains around if you bother them. They’ve been much less plentiful this fall than the last 3 or 4 years around here, because there’s fewer aphids for food, I understand. I’m not missing 'em.
Asian lady beetle
Last year there were a very large amount on the University of Illinois’s campus. I’d frequently have them land on my arms and neck and bite me on my way to class. This year they haven’t been a problem, I don’t know why. I’m sure glad they’re gone though, they’re a pain.
I haven’t even seen a good, red ladybug in the past few years since the Asian ones have arrived. Some areas of town have had literal swarms of Asian ladybugs covering sides of the houses. We haven’t gotten so many, but they are persistent about getting inside, and they do nip.
<Offenderati> :eek: </Offenderati>
Ladybugs, whether Asian or common, are voracious predators, with strong jaws and a feverish compulsion to feed on human blood.
Okay, I made that last part up, but they really are little hungry little beasts. I worked in a garden center for a number of years, and mid-summer we’d always stock bags of ladybugs and praying mantis eggs as forms of natural insect pest control. Ladybugs nosh on aphids, and can gobble them up at a terrific rate. So if you’ve got besieged roses, stock up on your ladies!
PS My mom got bitten good-oh by one of the little darlings a few years ago - really raised a welt!
Yes!!
Ladybugs are carniverous!!