INVASION OF THE L ADYBUGS
and once again we have our annual invasion of Asian brown ladybugs.
y first memorable experience was
twelve years ago on a gorgeous soft
fall day. I experienced what sounds like a
B-grade movie. My family had just arrived at
a vacation lodge when we were bombarded
by brown ladybugs. They came in swarms
and lit on our faces and clothing, pinching
us if we got in their way. Millions were trying
to crawl into the lodge. On the inside sitting
by the stone fireplace an innocent child
moved a curtain to discover that “a cast of
a thousand” had already made it inside. We
later found brown Asian lady bugs hiding
in the bedding, on window sills, hanging in
corners and blacking out light fixtures.
These were not the
sweet little ladybugs
that I knew in my
childhood but were
very un-lady-like
bugs that were trying to
move in with us. These
new intruders (Harmonia axyridis) are native
to Asia. I remember ladybugs being red with
black spots. These Asian ladybeetles come
in many variations of color that range from
orange and yellow to brown. They also vary
in the number of spots with some having
as many as 19 black spots and others with
no spots at all. Our native ladybugs migrate
for the winter but these un-lady-like Asian
cousins stay put and find a winter home.
Fall is here the leaves are falling,
They prefer light-colored or sunny sides
of buildings. Some years the swarms are
larger than others. If they make it into your
home they can spend the winter balled up
in groups resting. They don’t feed in the
winter; they live on their little fat reserves just
like bears. In the spring they will wake up
disperse, mate, lay eggs and then die.
How did this exotic ladybug get to America?
Rumor has it that in the late 70’s the U.S.
Department of Agriculture released Asian
ladybugs as a biological control agent (they
eat aphids). For several years after the release
these lady beetles could not be found so
were assumed to be extinct. In 1988 they reemerged
in strength. Today native ladybugs
are endangered. Cornell University has
launched a project to determine why our
native red ladybugs have disappeared,
for more information go to
www.lostladybug.org
The sheer number of Asian ladybugs can be
a nuisance to the homeowner. These beetles
are accidental invaders. This means that
they are outdoor insects and only become
a problem by wandering indoors during
a limited portion of their life cycle. These
Asian ladybugs do not sting or carry disease
but they do have mandibles so they can
pinch or nibble your skin. In large numbers
they can produce an odor and they leave a
discolored ‘spit’ where they hang out. I’ve
also noticed that where they crawl across
my windowpanes they leave a
yellow-orange substance
that is hard to clean. This
substance can also stain walls
and fabrics.
Things that you can do to make
these Asian invaders act more like
ladies are:
1) Fix damaged screens. Calk cracks around
doors and windows. You may need to also
install an insect screen over your attic and
exhaust fans.
2) If they make it into the house vacuum
them up.
3) Trap them with a light trap, which has
baffling so that the beetles can go toward
the light source then can’t find their way out.
(My sister told me she had seen this product
and for me not to waste my money).
This B-grade movie cannot have a happy
ending since our native ladybugs have
moved to Canada. You can only stay diligent
in your fight of this un-lady like guest and
hope she doesn’t wake up on a warm winter
day to drop into your soup or bomb dive a
horrified child or guest.
by Gayle Fisher
M y across
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re like
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sweet
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move in
FALL 2019 McMINN LIFE 41
/www.lostladybug.org