Why Asian Lady Beetles Become More Noticeable in October
Asian lady beetles tend to spend most of the warm seasons outdoors preying on aphids and small insects. The way in which they behave, however, tends to change once autumn arrives.
In the month of October, home owners may spot clusters of beetles on buildings during sunny afternoons. Warmed surfaces due to sunlight tend to attract beetles trying to find a comfortable spot to overwinter. A Barrie pest control expert can help confirm the insect when homeowners are unsure what type of beetle they are seeing.
The tendency may be particularly evident in cases of Barrie receiving cool evenings and milder, sunny days, causing the beetles to become quite active.
That explains the sudden appearance of dozens or even hundreds of lady beetles at any one time.
A group of lady beetles at a home does not mean there is reproduction happening inside the building itself. Lady beetle activities during fall are generally geared toward seeking places to protect themselves during the cold seasons.
Once winter arrives, outdoor activities tend to decline because of the colder weather; but those beetles who managed to get into indoor spaces will stay hidden during much of winter.
How to Tell Asian Lady Beetles from Regular Ladybugs
The look of Asian lady beetles resembles that of the native ladybugs; hence coloration does not necessarily help in their identification.
The beetles can vary greatly in their appearance. There are some that are either yellow or orange colour, and there are others that are red in color. They may possess a number of black spots, few spots or even no spots at all.
The white patch behind the beetle’s head forms one characteristic feature in the identification of the Asian lady beetle species. The beetle species usually have a dark spot resembling the letter M or W on the white patch depending on how the beetle is positioned.
Homeowners will find that the Asian lady beetles are slightly bigger than the native ladybugs.
When trying to identify them, look for a combination of:
- Yellow, orange or red colouring
- A variable number of black spots
- A pale area behind the head
- A dark M- or W-shaped marking
Their behaviour is another key. Mass gatherings in front of homes in the fall season are typical of Asian lady beetles rather than other native ladybugs.
It is important to understand how to identify them since the appearance of a few ladybugs outdoors is quite different from mass infestation by lady beetles indoors.
What Happens When Asian Lady Beetles Show Up Indoors
As such, Asian lady beetles that end up inside are more of a nuisance rather than a threat to health. In fact, they don’t multiply or lay eggs in houses; neither do they eat furniture, wood or stored food.
The main issue about these beetles is their numbers. A couple of them can be easily gotten rid of, but large numbers of them may accumulate in living spaces or become apparent with changing temperatures.
If disturbed or squashed, Asian lady beetles secrete a yellow colour liquid through their legs as a means of defence. This liquid has an irritating smell and may stain white-colour walls, curtains, furniture or any other light-colour surface.
This makes squashing them inside the house not advisable.
There could also be some skin irritation if the beetle lands on you or gets crushed against your skin. Asian lady beetles occasionally bite.
Homeowners may observe yet another peak of activity in the winter.
Beetles that had been dormant in some protected area might turn active because of increased temperatures inside the house or warming up of certain parts of the house from sunlight. It explains why at times beetles suddenly appear in the winter on a warm afternoon despite low temperatures outdoors.
It does not necessarily mean that a new Asian lady beetle invasion is taking place. Many times, these are just beetles that entered the house during fall and now turned temporarily active.
What Barrie Homeowners Can Do When Beetle Numbers Increase
When only a few lady beetles indoors are present, homeowners can usually remove them without using insecticides.
A vacuum is often one of the simplest options. Vacuuming allows the beetles to be collected without crushing them against walls, floors, or furniture.
When removing Asian lady beetles:
- Avoid squeezing or crushing them.
- Vacuum visible beetles carefully.
- Empty or dispose of the vacuum contents promptly after removal.
One of the reasons for which gentle removal is so essential is the yellow defensive fluid that gets secreted by disturbed beetles, which can cause odour and staining issues when a large number is crushed.
Individual spraying of beetles within the living space is not always necessary especially when there are only a few insects present. Removal of visible insects alone may suffice in such cases.
However, the problem may become more difficult to manage when large numbers keep recurring in the house.
When the beetles continue to emerge in dozens, are active in multiple rooms in the house, or when the homeowner is unable to control their numbers through simple removal, professional opinion may prove to be helpful. A pest control expert can then evaluate the activity and decide whether further treatment is necessary.
For homeowners of Barrie, spotting Asian lady beetles in the fall generally means their typical seasonal search for shelter during the winter months. Understanding their appearance, the reasons for their emergence, and proper removal methods can help cope with their sudden activity.