Ladybugs are great gardeners, but they’re not the best housemates. They could be a real hassle, especially when they show up in massive numbers.
Follow this guide to thoroughly explore the Common Signs of a Ladybug Infestation and 7 Tips to Help Keep Them Out.
Table of Contents
Ladybug Basics
Ladybugs are a common sight in the spring and summer, but they can also be found in the fall and winter. Many people enjoy having them around because they eat aphids and other pests.
These beetles typically travel in colonies, so there’s a good chance there are more around if you see one.
Therefore, if you start seeing large numbers of ladybugs indoors or outdoors, it may be indicative of an infestation.
Great in the Garden
There are over 4,000 lady beetle species globally, and many of them are great for your garden.
Ladybugs are often seen as a benefit to outdoor environments. They help control the population of harmful insects and are not known to cause any damage to plants or property.
Ladybugs eat aphids, mealybugs, and other pests that can damage plants.
You can attract ladybugs to your garden by planting flowers that they like and providing them with a water source.
Unhelpful Housemates
Ladybugs are a common sight in the spring and summertime. They are often considered a sign of good luck but can also be seen as a nuisance if they invade your home.
These beetle can lay up to 1000 eggs in their lifetime. Consequently, these bugs may start to populate your home, in large populations, over time if you do not take preventative measures.
Additionally, while ladybugs do not typically bite humans, they can pinch or bite if threatened.
In some cases, people can experience allergic reactions to ladybug bites. This includes developing a rash, having welts on the skin, sneezing, or itchy eyes.
What Causes Ladybugs invasion in homes?
Ladybugs, also recognized as group hibernators, swarm buildings to avoid the cold and overwinter in a warm location in the winter. They seek out safe locations and climates in which to overwinter and aestivate.
These beetles hide in crevices in rocks and tree bark in rural places. Houses, rather than rocks or barks, attract them in metropolitan environments.
Ladybugs are attracted to vents, cracks in walls, and ceilings, and they quickly become your guests, living and eating with you.
Ladybugs are drawn to brightly lit and flat surfaces in urban areas. Another aspect that attracts ladybugs indoors is the warmth of the building.
Without professional pest treatment and management, the infestation can be extremely aggravating and difficult to eradicate.
When Do Ladybugs Come Inside Your Home?
Ladybugs come inside your home in the fall when the temperature outside gets below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is because they are looking for a place to hibernate and lay their eggs.
The invasion is quite prominent during the winters as well, months when they are looking for food.
This is because there is a limited amount of food available outside, and the ladybugs will enter your home through any crack or opening that they can find.
If you want to keep them out of your home, you can do a few things, such as installing screens on your windows and doors, caulking any cracks or holes, and using insecticides.
We will discuss it more ahead.
What Type of Ladybeetles Are They?
Ladybugs come in different shapes and sizes. The most common type of ladybug that you will find in your house is the Coccinellidae, which is an oval, convex shape that is about a ¼ inch long.
They can be red, orange, yellow, or black with spots on their wing covers.
These tiny beetles are native to Asia.
They like to hibernate inside warm homes during the winter months.
The orange and black ladybugs are typically less harmful than the bright red ladybugs with black spots. In fact, they can be beneficial by eating aphids and other pests.
However, it is still important to get rid of them as they can become a nuisance if they invade your abode in large numbers.
Why Should You Remove Ladybugs?
Ladybugs are considered pests for a variety of reasons.
One reason is that they release a pheromone from their bodies that can be detected up to a quarter-mile away.
This scent does not easily go away, and it can attract more ladybugs to the area.
Additionally, ladybugs can cause damage to crops and structures.
Besides that, some people may choose to remove them because they are worried about the mess they make or because they are concerned about the health of their family or pets.
Common Signs of a Ladybug Infestation and 7 Tips to Help Keep Them Out
It’s conceivable that a couple of ladybugs in your home don’t cause concern. However, these tiny bugs are popularly recognized as swarm invaders.
In fact, Up to 15,000 ladybugs have been reported swarming a single home in other circumstances; therefore, identifying and eliminating infestation is essential.
The most obvious indicator of an infestation is the presence of large numbers of ladybug beetles on the outer surfaces of structures, concentrated in the crevices and gaps of the siding, and inside the building on the walls and ceilings.
The appearance of a yellow-colored discharge is another indicator of a ladybug infestation.
The discharge is made up of their blood and has a strong stench. The substance stains and is difficult to remove from fabrics like carpets and drapes.
These Fluids are also likely to be detected on the home’s walls and windowsills.
Moving on, If you find yourself with a lady beetle infestation, here are seven tips for dealing with them:
Sweeping and Vacuuming
As simple as it may sound, capturing ladybugs with a dustpan or vacuum is one of the simplest ways to remove a colony.
For example, vacuum a large group of ladybugs and immediately empty the vacuum bag outside.
If the infestation has not grown too severe, physically relocating the colony will dissuade more people from joining. Wash the area with soap after removing any chemical trails that might have been left behind to attract new bugs.
Spray Vinegar
Fill an empty spray bottle with white vinegar and thoroughly spray all over the place where you notice ladybugs resting or crawling.
Ladybugs are killed by white vinegar as soon as they come into touch with it, and it also destroys the scent trails that ladybugs use to attract other ladybugs.
Light Trap
One way to help keep ladybugs out of your home is to create a light trap; the beetles will flock toward the light but get stuck in the trap, ready for release outside.
This can be done by placing a light bulb in an inverted jar and leaving the area around the jar clear.
The ladybugs will fly towards the light and get trapped inside. You can then release them elsewhere or dispose of them.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural, non-toxic way of getting rid of ladybugs.
It works by puncturing the exoskeleton of the ladybug, which leads to dehydration and death.
Simply put on a mask, get your goggles out, and sprinkle the white powder around the windows and doors of your house.
DE will kill the ladybugs as they walk over it.
Surround Your Home With Mums
Try planting or potting some Chrysanthemums (also known as mums) if you don’t want lady beetles near your home or garden.
Mums aggravate lady beetles, so they avoid them ardently.
Keep plants near entry points outside the house, such as doors, windowsills, or even a window box, to keep these pests at bay.
Mums are a cheap and easy solution to keep lady beetles at bay.
Chemical Treatment
Chemical repellents are a type of pesticide used to deter ladybugs from an area.
They should be used as a last resort, in tandem with other control methods.
There are a variety of chemical repellents on the market, and it is important to read the label and follow the instructions carefully.
However, chemical repellents are not typically ideal for overwintering ladybugs.
If the problem is recurrent and severe, seeking professional help is highly recommended.
Natural Repellent
There are a number of natural repellents that can be used to keep ladybugs from gathering or entering your home.
These include using essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemon; spraying vinegar around doors and windows; using plants like lavender, basil, and mint near entrances; and placing bay leaves in strategic places.
These natural repellents should only be used in areas where children and pets cannot get to them, as they may be harmful if ingested.
Additionally, there are some general tips you can follow to help keep ladybugs out of your home:
- seal up any cracks or openings in your exterior walls and foundation;
- make sure your window screens are in good condition;
- fix any leaks around your roof, eaves, or gables;
- keep gutters clean, clear debris, and trim trees and bushes away from the house.
What Should You Do If There Are Only a Few Ladybugs?
Ladybugs are a helpful type of beetle that feeds on aphids. They are often considered beneficial because of their ability to help control the population of aphids.
That being said, even a few ladybugs can quickly turn into a major infestation if pheromones are used to invite others. It’s also tough to get ladybugs to depart once they’ve invaded in large numbers.
Therefore, Ladybugs should be removed as soon as they’re spotted.
In fact, when there are only a couple, it is usually easy to remove them compared to the eradication of a massive population.
How to Prevent Ladybugs From Coming Into My House?
You can do a few things to help prevent ladybugs from coming into your house.
The most important is to look for any cracks or gaps that might be there and seal them right away. You can use silicone caulks to seal and close openings.
You can also try to limit their access to food and water and ensure your house is clean so they don’t see it as a potential place to stay.
Additionally, homeowners can install door sweeps and repair any tears or holes in screens.
You can also use candles that have a citrus scent, as the smell will repel the bugs.
Bay leaves and cloves can also be effective in keeping ladybugs at bay.
Finally, they should keep their yards tidy by removing leaves and other debris that could act as a ladybug sanctuary.
What is the fastest way to get rid of ladybugs?
In particular, ladybugs can be eliminated quickly and easily by using insecticidal soaps or sprays.
Although these solutions are effective, they should only be used as a last resort because they can also kill other beneficial insects.
Other effective methods include elimination by vacuuming them up. If you have a large infestation, you may need to do this multiple times.
Summary
While ladybugs can benefit gardens, they can also become a nuisance if they infest an area in large numbers.
If you are seeing an influx of ladybugs, you can do a few things to get rid of them before resorting to chemical methods.
Remember, while it is important to get rid of an infestation of ladybugs, killing large numbers of them is not recommended. Therefore, try using natural remedies like soapy water or a vacuum cleaner before resorting to chemicals.
If those don’t work, you can use pesticides, but make sure to follow the instructions carefully and use less harmful chemicals whenever possible.
