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They aren't lady bugs - they are asian lady beetles. Annoying as heck, they bite, they are everywhere! Here's just a few differences: lady bugs "when it gets cold out they seek shelter outdoors. Asian lady beetles hunt garden pests, too, but that’s where the similarities end.
Asian lady beetles are considered a true pest. Unlike ladybugs, Asian lady beetles will gather in large groups, especially around warm, reflective surfaces like windows. Asian lady beetles “bite” by scraping the skin they land on, and leave a yellow, foul-smelling liquid on surfaces where they gather. Worst of all, Asian lady beetles will attempt to enter your home when they look for overwintering shelters. Basically, think of Asian lady beetles as ladybugs’ evil twins. Telling them apart is important because even if you’re cool with ladybugs, you don’t want Asian lady beetles hanging around. https://www.plunketts.net/blog/ladyb...-lady-beetles/
They aren't lady bugs - they are asian lady beetles. Annoying as heck, they bite, they are everywhere! Here's just a few differences: lady bugs "when it gets cold out they seek shelter outdoors. Asian lady beetles hunt garden pests, too, but that’s where the similarities end.
Asian lady beetles are considered a true pest. Unlike ladybugs, Asian lady beetles will gather in large groups, especially around warm, reflective surfaces like windows. Asian lady beetles “bite” by scraping the skin they land on, and leave a yellow, foul-smelling liquid on surfaces where they gather. Worst of all, Asian lady beetles will attempt to enter your home when they look for overwintering shelters. Basically, think of Asian lady beetles as ladybugs’ evil twins. Telling them apart is important because even if you’re cool with ladybugs, you don’t want Asian lady beetles hanging around. https://www.plunketts.net/blog/ladyb...-lady-beetles/
Yes, these have the M marking on the head. I've never been bitten....not much I can do, don't want to kill them. There aren't hundreds here, more like 40 or so...
Be careful of vacuuming them up. My sister vacuumed a bunch up, some dead some probably alive, not sure. But they stink and she had a hard time ridding her vacuum of the smell, had to replace all filters. She didn't empty after she vacuumed but even if she did they would have still left a smell
We had a real problem with them when we lived in Tennessee. We had just moved into a rental home and started to see them everywhere. At first we thought they were just ladybugs but they look quite different: ladybugs generally have fewer spots, are a more brilliant red color while Asian lady beetles can vary in color from dark yellow to red and any color in between, have a shorter 'snout' and are more oval shaped while Asian lady beetles are longer bodied. We figured out for sure they were not ladybugs when an orange one with tons of spots landed on me and I was admiring the "cool-looking lady bug" and the little SOB bit me, lol.
They often like to congregate on window frames or other places that get sunlight. If you can seal off these places, this will go a long way in helping to keep them out. We sealed around our windows & doorwall and this cut down on our ladybeetle issue quite a bit. Also keep in mind that they like to overwinter in warm places like your attic and even behind shingles/shutters if your house has them. We found lady beetles in our attic and in between the ceiling fan mount and the ceiling so they are pretty creative at finding places to pack in. They are never found singly or at least in our experience they weren't; where there is one there is going to be at least 5-10 others.
They do bite and smell bad when they are inside but they are actually beneficial when they are outside by eating pests much like their ladybug cousins so they do have some redeeming qualities
You can also trap them using a "light trap" which uses a black light and a funnel; directions for making one can be found online or you can buy them pre-made. Pesticides are not that effective on them per others who have used them. A long term solution is to plant trees with a south or SW facing orientation to give the lady beetles somewhere to winter over so they will not be as attracted to coming indoors.
Good luck with your lady beetle issue and hope that some of this has helped.
Years ago, I went into the spare bedroom to sleep...without turning on the light.
Pulled the covers back and slid in....only to have my feet touch something creepy. Lights on, it was about 100 of the bugs in my bed...all in a pile.
a nightmare!
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a nightmare!
