Asian lady beetles are swarming & stinking up Ohio homes. Here’s how to keep them out
If you’ve been seeing spots and smelling something odd, chances are these bugs have been inviting themselves into your home.
At first glance, they look like a cute ladybug, but get too close and they swarm, stink and nip.
They’re called the Asian lady beetle and they are quite the pest. Here’s what to know:
Where did the Asian lady beetle come from?
While ladybugs are native to North America, the Asian lady beetle is not and their presence is actually intentional.
According to Bug Busters pest experts, the beetle was actually brought into the U.S. decades ago to help control certain crops from other harmful pests.
However, the pests spread far beyond agricultural sites and found new homes in residential and urban areas, causing infestations in buildings and houses. The pests even made their way from southern states to northern states, and they can be found as far north as southern Canada.
Why do they come inside?
Simply put: shelter and warmth.
“During the spring and summer these lady beetles can be found in the fields and gardens. They even feed on aphids and scale insects and are extremely beneficial to ag crops and horticultural crops,” said Dr. Laura A. Griffeth with The University of Georgia. “The problem is in the fall and winter. As temperatures cool down, these lady beetles are searching for a place to ride out the winter in warmth.”
Differences between Asian lady beetles and ladybugs
While ladybugs are typically smaller and rounder than Asian beetles, it is still pretty hard to catch a difference between the two bugs.
Here are some differences:
- Ladybugs have red shells with a few black spots, while Asian beetles have red-orange colored shells and several black spots.
- Asian beetles have bigger white “cheek” marks
- Asian beetles release a smelly odor when threatened or smashed
- “A sure way to distinguish between an Asian lady beetle and a ladybug is to look at the spot where the head meets the wings. If the bug has a black ‘M’ marking in that spot, that’s a telltale sign you’re dealing with an Asian lady beetle,” said Viveka Neveln with Better Homes and Gardens.
One other big difference is that Asian beetles can actually bite. Although it might just feel like a little pinprick, Asian beetles scrape whatever they land on if they feel threatened. But the good news: it isn’t a harmful bite.
How to protect your Ohio home
Asian lady beetles are mostly a nuisance, but swarms of them can really be a challenge inside your home. They don’t eat wood, but if smashed, they can leave smelly stains around.
So, are there ways to deter them?
“There are no pesticides that can kill once lady beetles are inside your house. You can’t reach where the lady beetles really are, even with bombs or foggers. The best control for lady beetles is exclusion. You have to keep them out of the house before they move in, preferably in late summer,” said Dr. Griffeth.
Here are some tips to keep them away before they come in:
- Adjust or install tight-fitting sweeps or thresholds at the bottom of exterior doors.
- Install weather-stripping around other parts of the door frame.
- Seal utility openings where air conditioner pipes, phone, cable TV and other wires enter the foundation and siding. Holes can be plugged with caulk, cement, urethane foam, or copper mesh. Steel wool may be used, but it may rust and possibly stain siding if it is exposed to the weather.
- Caulk around windows, doors, siding and fascia boards.
- Keep window screens in good condition and install insect screening behind attic gable vents.
And if they are already inside, your best course of action is to break out the vacuum and suck them all up–but release them outside before they escape.
Do you have more questions about these pests? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
