Got Ladybugs?

You’re not alone! The multicolored Asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) can be a frequent visitor inside our warm homes in the winter, sometimes to our great consternation. Introduced in to the southern US in the early 1900’s to control soybean aphids, the Asian Ladybeetles are now well established across much of the country, to the detriment of native lady bug species. Because both the Asian and the native lady bugs are so variable in color and spotting, telling the two species apart can be challenging. The best way to control them is to find out how they are entering your home and then seal up those openings. If you already have a large number taking refuge, use your vacuum cleaner to sweep them up and deposit them elsewhere. They can be kept alive if you so choose by placing them in a jar with small breathing holes and some moist paper towels (prevents them from desiccating) and then placing them in the garage or other cold, but not freezing location until spring. I have adopted a lone ladybug that lives happily in my bathroom and will hopefully release her this spring so she can get a head start on eating aphids in my garden!