Ladybug Infestation, Nuisance Options

[DXSMac]

When I camp hosted at a park in Washington State (on the coast) last June, I ended up with a ladybug infestation. I took the lady bugs to Georgia with me, now I'm on my way back, in Tennessee and I still have the darn things.

From what I have read, ladybugs aren't a real problem, just a nuisance. They will eventually go away. But it's been EIGHT MONTHS! Sheesh! Well, I never saw any roaches in my RV so maybe the ladybugs kept the roaches away.

JJ (still fighting stiff fingers)

[Glenn Norton]

Those darned ladybugs will find the strangest places to hibernate. At one campground in California I found a whole pile of them inside an electrical box so I had to be careful when I plugged in. Have a safe drive home.

[nedmtnman]

Those darned ladybugs will find the strangest places to hibernate. At one campground in California I found a whole pile of them inside an electrical box so I had to be careful when I plugged in. Have a safe drive home.

Those lil critters are not lady bugs. They are beetles used in agriculture to eat aphids. They will be around a long long time. I use a dust buster to vacuum them up when I see some.

From the Farmers Almanac.

Where did all the ladybugs come from?

by Sandi Duncan | Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 | From: Farmers' Almanac Blog

Last week, we were dealing with very cold temperatures and even snow. Today it’s warm and sunny, but my house is being invaded by ladybugs!

From time to time, in the fall, we have many people write to us about the ladybugs that come out in the fall. Are they a sign of a harsh winter to come? Are they bringing good luck?

While you may have heard the superstition that ladybugs bring good luck, they don’t seem to have any weather predicting ability. There is no significance between the number of ladybugs and the upcoming winter forecast. Fall infestation of these beetles is definitely a sign of winter’s approach. As the temperatures begin to cool, these bugs love when a sunny day beckons to them to come out and soak up the rays. If it’s a warm autumn day, you may see tons of ladybugs on the sunniest side of your house.

In the fall as the nights cool down, the bugs gravitate to warm places during the days (soaking up the sun (rays) on your house). They will do anything or go any place for a bit of warmth. In fact, if there is a tiny opening around a window or door, they find their way in and seem to invite all of their relatives.

Bottom line – the ladybugs are getting the last bit of warmth and mean no harm. Ladybugs are friends of a garden. They feed on insect eggs, small worms, and other pests. They are not necessarily friends in homes. They can damage carpets and furniture with their secretions, and if your home is really infested, when they die they can be all over window sills throughout the house. Best way to get rid of them? Vaccuum.