My friend has a problem with ladybug infestation. We live in upstate NY (zone 5). There are hundreds of ladybugs which seem to have a nest in an exterior wall. I am not sure where this nest is, but it appears to be in a wall adjacent to the bathroom window. There is no obvious source of a break in the exterior or interior walls. The bugs seem to come in around the window jamb. What is the proper way to get rid of this problem? Even though it is in the teens, the bugs still come into the house.
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Replies
I'm sure there's some chemical that will rid them of the bugs.
But, he should find out how and where they entered.
I remember reading something funny in our local town paper in a letter to the editor. The author wanted the city to cut down all the box elder trees as she had a problem with the box elder bugs entering her house every fall.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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If I remember correctly, it goes like this:
'Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home...'
you only get one chance to do it right the first time
Edited 2/26/2008 7:34 pm by Heck
Funny as folks actually BUY ladybigs here in Florida at HD or Lowes for their garden.
Mr grandparents used to say ladybugs were good luck if they came into the house? Not sure why but when a few came in while I was building our house, I just smiled and remembered them saying it as the grandparents are since departed now.
Sorry for not being any help...just going down memory lane. :)
I had similar problem for a couple of years (lower Hudson valley), but I haven't seen any for several years now. They're not native ladybugs, by the way, but Asian invaders. I read that they can bite, but I've never been bitten myself.
Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_lady_beetle
ne sutor ultra crepidam
Edited 2/26/2008 7:50 pm ET by Disputantum
the asian one's can dna do bite.
and ... they're attracted to lighter colors.
as I found out a coupla years back right after lunch one day ...
while running some light yellow siding.
I'm not sure if the wind shifted or temps reached a certain point ...
but we went from zero before lunch ....
to being in the middle of a freaking swarm!
I tried to work thru it for 10 minutes or so ...
was wearing a short sleeve t shirt ....
had little red bite marks all over my arms.
the actual "bite" doesn't hurt ... but they burn for a while afterwards.
yech.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I had millions here in my log castle..one thing did it for good..4 yrs. of shop vac and a light bulb lit 24/7. No kidding, I may find one a week at most now.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
We had them and Box Elders in MI. I'm talking thousands on the side of the house when sunny. We would get them in doors, maybe find 20-30 a day during spring in doors.
We tried vaccuum and powders and sprays. Then we hired Orkin for $55 every 3 months: some of the best money ever spent.
"I never met a man who didn't owe somebody something."
ask here at Over the Fence
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
They're coming in precisely because it it so friggin cold outside. I read once that they secrete a "gathering" pheromone which is why you'll often find a few hundred of them all hanging out together. Skip the pesticides, that's bad karma, although a simple solution of soapy water in a spray bottle will kill most insects. Shop vac works pretty well. Check out http://www.ladybuglady.com/infestation.htm
Don't squash 'em, they stink.
I have a problem in my bedroom, not that serious, but I'm killing them every day
Ductape can fix EVERYTHING!!!
Every year this time we get this post and or several similiar.
They have no known predator.
They're in my house too.
Contact you local Cooperative Extension and see what advice they can offer you.
yourcontractor@aol.com
An interesting explanation of ladybug swarms, at least the fair weather left coast variety:
http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/112
They are awesome predators - eat aphids by the ton. I'd probably feel a bit different if I was having 'em swarm the house every day...
We had 'em a few years ago. They do bite... and stink up everything... and fill the light boxes...
Changed the color of the siding and they went elsewhere.
Liberty = Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
American Heritage Dictionary
We've had them for a few years at our farmhouse in VA. The windows are old double hungs and they seem to gather by one or two on the east side in particuar every year. They come in thru the pulleys. Don't know why they seem to like windows. Found them around three window frames we were working on last week on a renovation project. Heat in the spring seems to wake 'em up and get 'em moving, too often in the wrong direction.
I usually leave the storm window open, trap them on the outside of the regular sash and they seem to leave. Don't know why, but I feel bad killing them by any means. Maybe it's because they are supposed to bring good luck and I need all I can get. I can't say how many I've captured and released outdoors. That said, a vacuum would likely work well.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
If you know someone with a greenhouse, collect them and let them loose in the greenhouse.
Ladybugs are beneficial insects that consume other insects who would cause damage to the plants growing in the greenhouse. This means less pesticide usage.
Put a stocking inside the end of the shop vac hose, secure with a rubber band and when you sucked up all the little intruders, pull it out and give the whole bag to your local grower.
My neighbor has a nursery and he loves it when we bring them over.
Kids think it's pretty cool to.
I assume these are Japanese lady beetles (black spots, irregularly placed). If they haven't been much of a problem before expect them to get worse for the next year or two and then diminish over several years as their natural enemies catch up with them.
All you can do is seal and vacuum. Don't smash them since they stink. They do bite, but it's only a pin-prick unless you're allergic. Otherwise they're harmless.