Lady Bugs

[big country]

We recently bought a house, we don't live there yet but there is an infestation of Asian Lady Bugs. My wife was bawling me out about doing something about them so I bought bug bombs to bomb the house. I know these are definitely toxic and I don't want to use them again. (there is no flooring in the house as we are redoing it and no one will be living there for another 2 weeks so I just did it) Any suggestions on solving this problem? Hopefully without toxic chemicals next time? Also I'm not even sure the bombs will solve it as the packaging said nothing about lady bugs. Clearly plugging up whatever holes they are using to get in should be a priority.

I know these are causing issues with people around the country. Does anyone have experience with this?

[Eyebone]

I thought Lady Bugs were good because they ate bad bugs.

What harm do the Asian variety do?

[Dogman]

I thought Lady Bugs were good because they ate bad bugs.

What harm do the Asian variety do? These bite, and like to spend winter in the house with you.

[big country]

the Asian variety also like to bunch up unlike the normal variety and they REALLY stink when killed/smashed or scared...like stink bugs almost. One lady bug I can deal with, hell even 5 no issue. There are literally 100 lady bugs congregating in one of the corners of the house having a giant lady bug orgy I guess. There are also others at every light fixture.

Are there any remedies?

I like the normal variety...asian ones I hate.

They are orange (not red) and have more spots then the "normal" ones. They also eat aphids like the normal ones, but when there are no aphids they will eat you, literally. Also, I do not have an aphid problem in the house so they have to go.

[Dogman]

the Asian variety also like to bunch up unlike the normal variety and they REALLY stink when killed/smashed or scared...like stink bugs almost. One lady bug I can deal with, hell even 5 no issue. There are literally 100 lady bugs congregating in one of the corners of the house having a giant lady bug orgy I guess. There are also others at every light fixture.

Are there any remedies?I am not so eco friendly. I would nuke the living hell out of them and let god sort them out!

[chad]

they HATE camphor oil. get some and smear it around the edges of the room. you'll have to keep redoing it though, it evaporates pretty quick.

[zap]

Maybe you could vacuum the house and that would get any eggs too?

[Serpo]

Living in a house poisoned by a bug bomb cant be too good for you

[Joe King]

the Asian variety also like to bunch up unlike the normal variety and they REALLY stink when killed/smashed or scared...like stink bugs almost. One lady bug I can deal with, hell even 5 no issue. There are literally 100 lady bugs congregating in one of the corners of the house having a giant lady bug orgy I guess. There are also others at every light fixture.

Are there any remedies?

I like the normal variety...asian ones I hate.

They are orange (not red) and have more spots then the "normal" ones. They also eat aphids like the normal ones, but when there are no aphids they will eat you, literally. Also, I do not have an aphid problem in the house so they have to go.If they're congregating en masse, could you just go around and vacuum them up with a hose attachment? Then spray a lil' squirt of bug killer in there with 'em and throw the bag away.
ie sorta like zaps idea.

[big country]

I will definitely be vacuuming them up. We already did it once before we painted, they returned within 5 days.

I'm sure living in a bug bombed house isn't good for you but we do not live there yet (and won't for atleast 2 weeks) and I will give it plenty of time to air out tomorrow before we spend too much time in the house. It was a "good enough" measure since we don't live there yet. I am soliciting ideas to kill them or keep them out of the house for good. Hopefully non-toxically (is that a word?) but I'll do whatever it takes.

[Dogman]

I will definitely be vacuuming them up. We already did it once before we painted, they returned within 5 days.

I'm sure living in a bug bombed house isn't good for you but we do not live there yet (and won't for atleast 2 weeks) and I will give it plenty of time to air out tomorrow before we spend too much time in the house. It was a "good enough" measure since we don't live there yet. I am soliciting ideas to kill them or keep them out of the house for good. Hopefully non-toxically (is that a word?) but I'll do whatever it takes. Have you found how they are getting in and is it fixed?

[Joe King]

What if you just keep vacuuming them up? Do it everyday if you have to. I can't imagine they could reproduce faster than they could be vac'ed up. Might take a few times, but with colder weather coming you should be able to get a handle on it.

[po boy]

Try this in a pump up sprayer go around the exterior perimeter and around the windows and doors and soffits, it is harmless to humans in the concentrations listed.

I have used this in granular form for fire ants and spiders.

It may be used indoors if the vac trick doesn't work or if you want to kill kill kill.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053MS368/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001E8X1RQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=08MKRDCS5E23WZ7R1ZS7

Sorry had to edit because the last product contained more than Pyrethrin this should be available at Home Depot.

Found another although it isn't Pyethrin alone.
http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/Product/ExciteR-Insecticide-Exciter-Pyrethrin?gclid=CJ6p_fmU9qsCFYeA5Qod4HXmJw

[big country]

Have you found how they are getting in and is it fixed?
I have not found it yet. I don't see an obvious problem and I'm sure it will be something I will investigate more when I am living there full time.

[zap]

Do you have a house cat or a little dog , maybe they can help eat the little buggers.

[Dogman]

I have not found it yet. I don't see an obvious problem and I'm sure it will be something I will investigate more when I am living there full time. The ingress path may be big or also very small, take a very close look at any wall penetrations/windows/doors/outlets/, etc.

And good luck in the contest.

[big country]

Do you have a house cat or a little dog , maybe they can help eat the little buggers.

We have a dog, I dunno if he will eat them though.

"little buggers" I see what you did there...haha...very punny.

[freespirit]

here's a link for some great info.

http://www.ladybuglady.com/infestation.htm

from the site:



To prevent ladybugs from getting in, make sure all cracks around windows, doors, clap boards, pipes, ect. are sealed up. Some extermination companies offer this service, sometimes called inclusion. This, too, is no small project, and may cost a small fortune, but it's worth it. Especially if you don't like ladybugs joining you for dinner.



Q. How can I get them out of my house?
A. If you don't have a lot, just leave them. They will leave when spring arrives. Disturbing them will only cause them to stress out leaving yellow markings on your walls. The yellow stuff, you see, is not waste matter, but rather, their blood. Ladybugs release a small amount of their blood which is yellow and smells, when they sense danger. Some people have said that it does stain on light colored surfaces.


Q. But, I really want the ladybugs out of my house!
A. Use a "shop vacuum". This type of vacuum is easy to use for collect ladybugs. When using this to vacuum up ladybugs, use a clean bag or pad the bottom with a cloth. After all is clean, release the unwelcome guests outside.

Q. Is there anything else I can use to get the ladybugs out of my house?
A. Yes. There is a product called a Ladybug Black Light Trap. It uses radiating black light to attract and contain the ladybugs.

Q. Will Ladybugs Infest My House Next Year too?
A. Because ladybugs infest homes yearly once they’ve started, many homeowners will put out a Ladybug House for them to overwinter in the next year, in hopes they will stay in the ladybug house instead of in their home.

...hope this helps.
GOOD LUCK!
;D

[skid]

Get out the caulking gun and buy 100 tubes of caulk. Seal up absolutely everything no matter how small. That's what I did when I had a clusterfly problem. The odd one still gets in but I stopped most...

[big country]

Wow....this is going to be a PITA according to that site. Ugh.

[Glass]

Amazing. Didn't realise they can be such a pest. Those variety don't sound very nice at all.

They seem to be attracted to light. Are you leaving a light on when you are not at the house? Even if you vacuum them up they are going to stink. A suggestion is to put a stocking/panyhose leg down the vacuum tube so they don't get sucked all the way into the bag but they are still going to smell.

Are you rural? Are they growing soy around where you are? Grapes or similar?

Spraying seems to be the only effective solution then trying to seal the house up tight. how about chucking some Diatomaceous earth on them and see what happens. Maybe that will chop them up a bit like it does for other bugs.

Wouldn't you know they were introduced to control other pests... no natural predators. I've heard that story a few times.

[Libertytree]

Maybe you can put a black light in a box outside?

[BrewTech]

Wow... I've never heard of Lady bugs like this. All the lady bugs I've ever known have been really nice. I'm not sure I can be of much help, but... Have you tried insulting them? I mean, really making them feel unwelcome? Maybe you could play the race card, them being Asian and all... I'm not talking "you're mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries" insulting... really dig down deep! Have you tried farting in their general direction? Perhaps taunting them a second time might work. Hope this helps!

[7th trump]

I know lavender pedals and coconut oil is a mix that most spiders do not like to smell. Lavender is used a lot in repelling insects. Dont know if it will work on ladybugs though.....google it!
You can always get a box full of "preying mantis's".
They love ladybugs for snacks and are cool to watch.

[BabushkaLady]

Like Zap and a few others have said; vacuum them up!!

I did move into a house with tons of LadyBugs once. It was fall and I assumed they were just preparing for an early cold winter. (it was in the South) As it turned out, I never had another incident there for the next seven years.

I have used an organic cleaner that I've sprayed on infestations. The surfactant essentially drowns the bugs and works great for fleas.

Good Luck with your new house!

[Glass]

Wow... I've never heard of Lady bugs like this. All the lady bugs I've ever known have been really nice. I'm not sure I can be of much help, but... Have you tried insulting them? I mean, really making them feel unwelcome? Maybe you could play the race card, them being Asian and all... I'm not talking "you're mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries" insulting... really dig down deep! Have you tried farting in their general direction? Perhaps taunting them a second time might work. Hope this helps!

Instead of insulting them you could lay on the hospitality. I put out cans of beer with a little extra yeast for aroma then sit back and watch my pests get s#(faced. Works for snails and slaters. Once fermented for a week or so in the sun the aroma is nothing short of gag inducing. Great dog deterent when spread around. Actually it attracts the dogs who roll it in. It deters their owners from encouraging their dogs to lay their eggs on my verge. Great for fly traps as well.

So, do lady bugs like beer?

[Cebu_4_2]

They come and go here, the last 2 years we have had box elders, real gentlemen type of bug. I cant say much about your problem as I like Azians.

The house is not sealed and these things follow warmth ie: holes, cracks etc. If they are getting into light fixtures then they are in between the walls/ceiling and coming down into the warmth. To seal the house it is a big job as you know. To do it right the house needs to be foamed and wrapped on the outside and sealed on every stud throught the inside. Too much work I would think.

Think of them as your friends, they must be eating something which is good. Try to see where they are coming in and seal accordingly, scoop them up and put them back outside, they are living things too. As the weather changes there will be less so just seal and scoop, next year you might get boxelders.

Useless post I know but trying to practice typing in the dark :-)

[big country]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yes the property is rural, no soy or grapes that I have seen around. The place is in the mountains so there isn't much in the way of farmable ground. I have about 4 acres of bottom land that sometimes floods so it used only for hay, neighbors are all the same way.

I will vacuum them religiously and try some of the external applications that you guys have suggested. I will also try to caulk up any holes that I can find.

[big country]

I have no idea, maybe my walls are insulated with dead lady bugs? woohoo, free insulation!

According to that ladybug website linked earlier these lady bugs put out pheromones that other lady bugs can detect from 1/4mile away. Once they find a good nesting place they cover it in pheromones. That is also why many times they will keep returning year after year as the pheromones stick around for next winter.

[Dogman]

I have no idea, maybe my walls are insulated with dead lady bugs? woohoo, free insulation!

According to that ladybug website linked earlier these lady bugs put out pheromones that other lady bugs can detect from 1/4mile away. Once they find a good nesting place they cover it in pheromones. That is also why many times they will keep returning year after year as the pheromones stick around for next winter. Planing to paint the inside later? That could probably solve the pheromone problem.

[Spectrism]

Wow... I've never heard of Lady bugs like this. All the lady bugs I've ever known have been really nice. I'm not sure I can be of much help, but... Have you tried insulting them? I mean, really making them feel unwelcome? Maybe you could play the race card, them being Asian and all... I'm not talking "you're mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries" insulting... really dig down deep! Have you tried farting in their general direction? Perhaps taunting them a second time might work. Hope this helps!


Yeah same here. Never heard of lady bugs acting so un-lady-like that they would bite and drink your blood. Vampire ladies?

I like the insult technique. Tell them their spots make them look fat.

[big country]

We vacuumed them up and washed the walls. We then painted and 5 days later they were gathering in the same corner again, AFTER washing and painting!

We are currently redoing all of the carpet and painting all of the walls. Its amazing how much better $500 in paint can make a place look.

[Santa]

Those are no Lady bugs.... Those are Skanky bugs. ;D