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Ladybugs, Asian Lady Beetles
Good Ladybugs, Bad Ladybugs
Since the early 1990's, lady bugs (Asian
Ladybeetles) have become a major pest in
thousands of American homes. Our domestic lady bugs are well known
for being beneficial beetles that readily feed on aphids, a major
pest of gardens and ornamental plants. Needing a biological,
natural alternative to pesticides, the Asian lady beetle was imported to
feed on aphid pests. The problem with the imported beetles: they
do not die off in the winter! Instead, these opportunistic beetles
enter our homes seeking shelter and a place to over-winter.
For many years we were all told to simply capture and release all
unwanted indoor lady bugs. It has now gotten to the point where
this is no longer feasible. When thousands of these pests invade
your home, capture and release can be quite a joke. Large
populations of lady bugs can also pose the same health hazards to
asthmatics as do infestations of German
cockroaches.
Ladybug Elimination
The best way to treat for ladybugs is to use the same methods and
products used to control
boxelder bugs. Tempo WP is an odorless
product which is labeled for use indoors (if the need ever arose)
and also on most shrubs and plants around your home. If you only
have the beginnings of a ladybug/ lady beetle infestation, you can get
by with treating the interior and exterior of your home with Demon WP. This
product will do a good job, but Demon WP is not
labeled for spraying the wide range of shrubs and ornamentals, as is Tempo WP.
When
treating, walk around the outside of your home twice: once to spray
cracks, crevices, entry points and the second time to fan-spray any
surface where they might crawl or come into contact with your
product. Any shrubs, small trees or bushes should also be treated
as well as the ground around them and any mulched areas in your
landscaping.
Although Tempo WP is safe to use
indoors for almost any type of pest (when directions are followed), you
should not have to in the case of ladybug
infestations. Your
vacuum will be your best tool indoors.
In severe cases, Delta Dust or Drione Dust
should be applied to indoor
cracks, crevices, wall voids, hiding
places and entry points. Dusts should
be applied with a Crusader
Duster. Most pest control technicians prefer Delta Dust
(because it is the world's only water-proof dust) but either Delta Dust or Drione Dust will
do a good job, if dusting is necessary.
To help prevent
infestations of ladybugs, treat the exterior of your home
with Tempo WP
in the Summer, Fall and Spring. Each application will most
likely
last between 4 and 12 weeks but for best results, try to time
your
spray treatment with the normal time of year (in your area) when
ladybugs
usually appear. One or two weeks before activity begins or
at first sign of
ladybugs (or their larvae) is best.
Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle (Ladybug)
The "multicolored Asian lady beetle" or Asian Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis), has become common in many areas of the eastern United States. This beetle is a beneficial inhabitant of the landscape but can also be a serious household pest in those areas where it has become well established and abundant.
The Asian ladybug is approximately 1/3 inch in length and semi-spherical or dome-shaped. Their colorations can vary from yellowish-orange to red; deep orange is the most common color. There are 19 black spots on the back that vary in darkness among individual beetles and the spots may be faint or missing on some beetles. There is a black "W" shaped mark on the thorax of this ladybug.
Asian ladybugs, like boxelder bugs, pine seed bugs and elm leaf beetles, are accidental invaders; that is, "outdoor" insects that create a nuisance by wandering indoors during a limited portion of their life cycle. Accidental invaders do not feed or reproduce indoors. They cannot attack the house structure, furniture, or fabric. They cannot sting or carry diseases. Ladybugs do not feed on people, although they will occasionally pinch exposed skin. Ladybug may leave a slimy smear and they have a distinct odor when crushed.
boxelder bugs Delta
Dust Drione Dust Tempo WP lady bugs Demon WP
ladybugs lady
beetles
