Lady Beetles

The name "ladybug" is actually an Americanization of "ladybird" or "Our Lady's bird." Entomologists prefer to call them lady "beetles" because true bugs belong to a different family of insects.

Lady beetles come in various colors and patterns. Some are red with black spots, while others might be black with red spots. There are thousands of species worldwide. Most are beneficial, but a few can damage plants.

While most people recognize adult lady beetles, their young are often overlooked. Lady beetle larvae are incredibly efficient at controlling aphids, consuming up to 50 insects a day. As adults, their appetite decreases to about 20 insects a day. 

They reproduce all summer long, keeping their populations in sync with the aphids.

Lady beetles have long been valued for their ability to control crop pests. However, using predatory insects can sometimes have unintended consequences. For example, Asian lady beetles were introduced to control aphids in fruit trees. While they are effective, they can also outcompete native species and have some annoying habits.

Asian lady beetles can pinch and exude a yellowish blood when stressed, which can stain surfaces and ruin the flavor of wine.

They tend to congregate in large numbers during the fall, often invading homes. We often discover this in mid-winter and early spring when heating systems wake them up, causing them to migrate indoors.

To deal with these beetles, using a shop-vac to collect them is preferred over insect sprays, which can leave dead bugs lying around. Preventing them from entering your home in the first place is the best strategy. Keep your home sealed, caulked, and painted. Black light traps placed away from your home can also help.

It's rarely necessary to use pesticides, but if all else fails, an application in the early fall to the exterior of your home can reduce the number that get inside.