Frequently Asked Questions About Asian Lady Beetles

Minneapolis and Saint Paul see their share of pests all year round. One pest that tends to cause trouble in the autumn months, the Asian lady beetle, may cause Twin Cities residents considerable annoyance, even if these brightly-colored bugs don't pose actual disease threats or other serious dangers.

If you see creatures resembling ladybugs in your garden or even inside your home, you'll want to know how these pests behave, why you don't want them in your home, and what you can do to rid yourself of them. Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions about Asian lady beetles.

What Do Asian Lady Beetles Look Like?

Asian lady beetles present a rounded, bulbous shape due to the wing covers that occupy most of their body length (typically about one-quarter inch for adults). These wing covers, which may appear orange, red, or tan in color, sport numerous black spots. You'll probably see an M-shaped or W-shaped marking on the head.

Even if you don't see any adult Asian lady beetles, you may spot their eggs on the undersides of your trees' leaves. These insects lay their yellow, oval-shaped eggs in clusters. The larvae, which lack the rounded wing covers, appear orange or black.

How Do Asian Lady Beetles Differ From Other Ladybugs?

Ladybugs generally restrict their diet to aphids, remaining outdoors even when the weather turns cold. By contrast, Asian lady beetles eat fruits and other insects in addition to aphids (although they only eat fruit that already has an opening in the flesh.) They will also migrate to warm indoor environments in cooler weather.

Asian lady beetles have one more difference from ladybugs: the ability to defend themselves against predators. These insects can bite people who try to touch, hold, or generally bother them. While a single bite may just feel like an annoying pinch, multiple bites from aggrieved beetles can cause considerable discomfort.

What Problems do Asian Lady Beetles Cause?

Asian lady beetles can actually have a beneficial effect on garden ecosystems. Some species of these beetles will eat insects that might otherwise prey on your garden flora. However, others may direct their appetite primarily against any agricultural crop plants you happen to cultivate, forcing you to take action against them.

The real trouble from Asian lady beetles occurs when these creatures decide to migrate indoors for the fall and winter. While Asian lady beetles won't eat your food like ants, spread disease like ticks, or damage your furniture like termites, they will emit a yellowish liquid from their joints when disturbed or frightened.

Pest control professionals refer to this emission of fluid as reflex bleeding. Reflex bleeding not only produces a foul smell (which might cause reactions in asthma or allergy sufferers), but it also leaves ugly stains on household surfaces, forcing you to clean up mess after mess until you get rid of your unwanted houseguests.

How Do Asian Lady Beetles Get Inside?

Asian lady beetles commonly enter homes through small gaps around doors, windows, and any other spaces where two different boards or materials meet less than perfectly. Even tight spaces surrounding utility cables and plumbing pipes can give Asian lady beetles all the room they need to sneak inside.

How Do Pest Control Experts Prevent Asian Lady Beetles?

Pest control experts may use various pesticides aimed at killing any beetles that might try to enter the home, either laying the chemicals down at likely points of entry or treating the entire exterior of the home. These pesticides typically contain chemicals such as permethrin and cyfluthrin.

What Other Measures Keep Asian Lady Beetles Away?

Your pest control expert can perform a thorough inspection for any breaches that allow Asian lady beetles to enter your home. You may need to apply caulk, cement, urethane foam, weather stripping, or other sealants to close those cracks, holes, or gaps. You may also need to replace damaged doors or windows.

To get rid of those Asian lady beetles that have already infiltrated your home, your pest control expert may recommend sweeping them up or vacuuming them up (using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter). You can then move them outdoors and allow the pesticides and other external barriers to keep them from re-entering.

Ask your pest control expert about regular inspections and re-application of pesticides to keep Asian lady beetles at bay. Once a beetle population has entered your home, they will leave pheromones that could easily attract future waves of invaders. Ongoing preventative care can help you minimize such occurrences.

You don't have to face the dangers of disease transmission, agonizing stings, or property damage to benefit from Paffy's Pest Control. Our skilled team can help you get your troublesome Asian lady beetle problem (and many other pest problems) under control. Contact us today to schedule our professional pest control services.