by Pam Rooks

How many ‘m’s’ can you find in “Asian lady beetle?” Well, believe it or not, the correct answer is one… but where is it? It’s on their back. On the back of a bug that looks remarkably similar to a lady bug, but isn’t. Not that it’s all so sinister though. These critters, in their usual outdoor habitat are considered beneficial insects because they feed on aphids and scales. However, they may not be regarded quite so warmly by the homeowner who finds he has hundreds or even thousands of them packing themselves away in the cracks of his walls for the winter. Here they enter their diapause cycle, kind of a hibernation phase for insects. The Asian lady beetle is most attracted to brightly painted or southerly-facing walls and if one decides that your home would make a nice winter get-away, it will send out a chemical signal inviting all its friends to come too. Perhaps all the occupants of the house, humans, dogs, cats, fish, gerbils, what have you, and Asian lady beetles could live together in peace and harmony for the winter. The more the merrier, right? That might be just fine if not for the warmer days of winter when these bugs like to get out for a stretch, flying around near lights, staining furniture and walls with a foul-smelling chemical they emit when disturbed and pinching bare human skin (they do not bite.)

What to do? Well, in the case of invading insects, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Try to seal all cracks around foundations, siding, doors, windows, etc. to deny entry. An exterminator can also treat the outside of your house if you want. If they’re already inside, vacuum them up with a vacuum hose then remove the vacuum bag, seal it tight with a plastic bag and promptly dispose of it, preferably outdoors. Whatever you do, do not try to bug bomb or otherwise fumigate to kill bugs inside walls as the dead bodies may attract secondary pests such as beetles or mice.

Pam Rooks is founder of the Kansas City Independent Service Contractors Association.www.kcisca.com
Stop by Pam’s Home and Garden Blog for more interesting articles.
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