The Daily Pest | Viking’s Blog On Pest Control

LADY BUGS BECOMING NEW JERSEY NUISANCE

Written by Viking Pest Control | October 21, 2010

We call them “Lady Bugs,” but the small, round flying insects with the brightly colored spotted shells are actually Asian Lady Beetles, sometimes called Asian Ladybird Beetles. This has been a particularly prolific year for these insects, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Eastern Shore of Maryland pest control experts at Viking Pest Control have been fielding numerous complaints of large swarms of beetles covering the siding and roofs of buildings. Exterior pest control treatment by a licensed  pest control company, like Viking Pest Control, before these beetles manage to creep inside your home or commercial building is the most effective pest control method available.

What are Asian Lady Beetles and Where Did They Come From?

Your local pest control experts at Viking Pest Control say the beetles were introduced into New Jersey in the 1970s and 1980s by farmers and home gardeners seeking an environmentally-friendly, natural pest control. Distinguishable from New Jersey’s native red lady bugs by their pumpkin color, Asian lady beetles adapted easily to New Jersey’s temperate climate and quickly overwhelmed native lady bug populations.

Asian lady beetles spend their summers outdoors feasting on aphids and other tiny insects. In the fall, they can be found congregating on light-colored, sunny walls, sometimes by the hundreds of thousands. Particularly bad infestations can completely coat large portions of exterior walls or closely cover tree branches. Covered objects may appear to move eerily as the insects mill about searching for a way inside. These colorful beetles spend the winter inside buildings, hiding in wall voids, under siding and inside roof soffits. They emerge in the spring when these prolific insects again present a nuisance for NJ, PA, MD, and DE home and business owners as they congregate on sunny walls and windows seeking a way back outside.

While not considered harmful, Asian ladybeetles can bite and do release a foul, pungent odor when disturbed. Large swarms can stain walls, wallpaper and fabric with blood and feces. The best way to remove these pests from inside your home is to vacuum them up.  If you have a problem with lady bugs in your home, contact Viking Pest Control today!

Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about lady bug pest control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!