Ladybug Infestation

How To Deal With A Ladybug Infestation

Many people find their homes have been taken over by a ladybug infestation some time during the fall.  During the rest of the year these adored insects spend their days eating trees and being wished upon by the lucky individuals who are fortunate enough to have one land on them.  Then, when migration time arrives, they suddenly are not loved so much when swarms begin invading homes.

Why Your Home?

When ladybugs begin their migration, they fly high above the trees looking for a suitable clustering area.  They are attracted to buildings that are lighter in color and walls that get plenty of direct sunlight.  So typically, they choose walls that are on the southwest side of buildings that are light and near an area with a lot of trees. 

Once ladybugs find a preferred area, they release pheromones to attract others of their kind.  These special pheromones are used to communicate during both the hibernation and mating season.  This is a powerful perfume-like substance that can be detected up to almost half a mile away.  In doing so, they signal to other ladybugs that they have found a prime hibernation location.

Unfortunately, these pheromones are not easy to get rid of and they can stay on your home and in your walls until the following year.  Once you are plagued with a ladybug infestation it is not only hard to get rid of them but also extremely difficult to prevent another one from occurring.

Occasionally you may notice a yellow substance being excreted from them.  This is their blood, it stains and contains pheromones.  When they become stressed or scared, this is their defense mechanism to protect themselves against predators.  Therefore, the last thing you want to do is scare the ladybugs or you can end up with more pheromones and an even worse ladybug infestation.

Are They Dangerous?

The good thing about a ladybug infestation is that they do not harm anything in or around your home, including children and pets.  They do not bite, ruin furniture or try to enter into any stored food.  Ladybugs are really only a nuisance because of their presence and after they have spent months hibernating in your home, they often cannot remember how to get back out where they came in.

Ladybugs feed on aphids, which are destructive pests that eat plants such as rose bushes.  When they are hibernating in your home, they feed off of their own stored body fat.  They are actually quite helpful to have around if you have a garden because they provide a useful service by eating aphid infestations that harm produce and plants.  Some gardeners actually buy ladybugs to release around their plants to help with such annoyances.

Getting Ladybugs Out Of Your Home

If you are bothered by your ladybug infestation, you should simply help them find their way outside which they are trying to do in the first place.  You may also chose to vacuum up large piles with a hose and empty the bag or container outside.

The bad news about trying to get rid of them is that they all do not become active together.  Depending on the size of the cluster and outdoor temperature, the rejuvenating process could take place over several months so removing them can become a hassle.  Also, contrary to popular belief, they are not reproducing inside your home.  They do not breed within a structure.

Chemicals can be used to destroy a ladybug infestation however, the dead carcasses still need to be disposed of and chances are, they will excrete a lot of blood and pheromones in the process.  The best way to deal with a ladybug infestation is learn to get along, help them outside and work on your home to prevent them from returning next year. 

Scrub your walls, inside and out to remove as much of the pheromones as you can and fix any broken or torn window screens.  You should spend some time caulking every crack that you can find around windows, doors and the foundation of your home.