Asian Lady Beetles might be pleasant to look at, but they can definitely become a nuisance to deal with when found around your home. Also known as lady beetles, these insects are commonly found in many areas of the United States, including right here in Wisconsin. Asian lady beetles can be found outdoors in plants and gardens, but they often find their way indoors and can invade homes during the fall and winter months.
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Although they aren’t as harmful as other pests, Asian lady beetles can cause damage to you and your home. They can be aggressive and bite humans when threatened and may also be very poisonous to dogs when consumed in large quantities. Asian lady beetles leave behind a putrid odor and yellow fluid that can become a pain to deal with in your home.
Because they group in large numbers, it doesn’t take much for a few Asian lady beetles to become an entire home infestation. Here are ways to get rid of pesky Asian lady beetles and keep them out of your home for good.
Is it a ladybug or an Asian lady beetle?
Asian lady beetles are often mistaken for Ladybugs because of their similar appearance and behavior. The biggest difference between the two insects? Ladybugs are generally harmless and Asian lady beetles can be a threat, hence the nickname “the bad ladybug.” Here’s how to differentiate the two.
Appearance
Asian lady beetles are larger than ladybugs and tend to have longer bodies. While most ladybugs are red with black spots, Asian lady beetles can be anything from red to orange and don’t always have black spots. The easiest way to distinguish Asian lady beetles from ladybugs is by looking at their heads; Asian lady beetles have white heads with a distinctive black M-shaped marking, while ladybugs have mostly black heads with small white markings.
Behavior
The main difference between Asian lady beetle and ladybug behavior is that ladybugs don’t tend to make their way indoors. If you spot one of these insects indoors, it is likely an Asian lady beetle, as they often migrate into homes to seek warmth through the cold months. Additionally, only Asian lady beetles exert a foul-smelling yellow liquid.
Signs of an Asian Lady Beetles Infestation
Asian lady beetles tend to invade homes starting in the fall and continuing throughout the winter. Signs of an infestation include swarms near doors, windows, cracks, and crevices around your home. You may also notice an unpleasant smell or yellowish stains on your carpets, walls, and other surfaces. If you notice any of these signs, your home may be infested.
How to Prevent Asian Lady Beetles
As troublesome as they may sound, there are many ways to keep Asian lady beetles out before they become a big problem in your home. Because Asian lady beetles are such a tricky pest to handle, the best way to prevent them is by sealing all entry points to your home’s structure.
Inspect your home and seal any gaps, cracks, or crevices in the structure. Focus on areas such as doors, windows, basements, window screens, and sliding doors. You can seal these areas using caulk, sealant, urethane foam, copper mesh, cement, weather stripping, and more. Sealing all of the entry points around your premises can help reduce the number of Asian lady beetles entering your home.
To prevent Asian lady beetles outdoors, be sure to keep garden areas tidy. Try to avoid leaving damaged fruit and plants laying around for them to snack on.
How to Get Rid of Asian Lady Beetles
When it’s too late for preventative measures, there are some steps you can take to get rid of Asian lady beetles on your own. First and foremost, when you find an Asian lady beetle in your home, do not crush it. This will cause them to release that nasty-smelling fluid and leave a yellow stain behind. Instead, use a vacuum cleaner to easily suck them up without contact. After vacuuming them up, you can discard them by sealing the dust collection bag and disposing of them in a tightly sealed garbage can.
Remove Asian Lady Beetles For Good With Wil-Kil Pest Control
DIY pest control solutions can be expensive and tricky to manage, especially when some pesticides become harmful when misused. Luckily, you can count on Wil-Kil Pest Control to help control Asian lady beetles in or around your home.
Our technicians are trained to inspect your home thoroughly, identify the pest, pinpoint the problem areas, and implement the pest control solution that best suits your needs. We’ll provide you with a customized integrated pest management (IPM) program specifically tailored to your home to ensure you’re getting the highest quality pest control. We’ve provided 100% customer satisfaction since 1924, and we’re not stopping now. Contact Wil-Kil Pest Control today to kiss those Asian lady beetles goodbye at last!