How To Get Rid Of Ladybugs

Need to get rid of ladybugs? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

Ladybug Infestation

There are around 450 ladybug species in North America. The good majority of these species are considered beneficial insects since they feed on plant-eating pests like aphids and other sap feeders. In fact, a single ladybug can eat around 5,000 aphids during their short lifespan. 

Ladybugs are easily identified by their convex, hemispherical bodies characterized by hard wing covers that come in many bright colors like yellow, pink, orange, black and famously red. They may be marked with spots, but not all ladybugs have distinct spots. 

What Causes A Ladybug Infestation?

Most species of ladybug have no reason to come inside your home. There is one insect, however, that resembles the benign lady bug, but is actually an invasive pest that isn’t native to North America. This beetle, named the Asian lady beetle, is typically a bit larger than your traditional ladybug and is generally orange in color.

How To Prevent Ladybugs From Coming Inside Your Home

Again, most species of ladybug will not come inside your home intentionally as their only food source will be outside. If you have a large blooming garden or many flowering plants near your doors or windows, you may find ladybugs in large numbers near your home as they are attracted to the aphids on your plants. Ladybugs do like to gather in quite large groups and you may find that some of them have inadvertently made their way inside your home. If it is just a few ladybugs and they aren’t bothering you, you can wait for them to go back outside or vacuum them up and release them back outside. 

Asian lady beetles are different, however. These invasive pests that like to “overwinter” indoors. These beetles hibernate in the winter months and prefer the kind of protected spaces that a home provides. To prevent them from coming into your home, remove window air conditioners when no longer in use and seal up any cracks around windows or doors. Asian lady beetles are known for releasing an odorous yellow substance when threatened and can even “bite” by pinching or scratching the skin. Their bite can be quite irritating. 

How To Get Rid of Ladybugs In Your Home

A ladybug or Asian lady beetle infestation in your home can be quite daunting. Asian lady beetle populations are particularly difficult to control as they are adept at finding spaces in your walls or inside window encasements where they can hibernate. You may think you have gotten rid of all the Asian lady beetles in the fall only to find many of them emerging from your windows and walls in the spring. 

If you think you have a ladybug or Asian lady beetle infestation, call a pest care professional to identify where any ladybug or beetles might be nesting or hibernating and will create a plan to help eradicate your problem.

Find A Pest Specialist For Ladybug Control

If you are concerned about ladybug control for your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.