Attack of the Ladybugs!

[iceman]

Millions of the little bastards swarming around the house, sneaking in through doors and around screens, getting in your (well, my) hair and clothes. Unreal.

Just thought I'd share.

[britney]

this is some kind of omen -- one means good luck, a whole swarm/invasion must mean youre gonna have more good luck than you can handle!

enjoy.
-b

[KQ]

LOL!!! Happens to my GF every year. She has them all over her master bedroom and bath. It's amazing.

You lady killer, you!

[Buzzworthy]

Originally posted by iceman
Millions of the little bastards swarming around the house, sneaking in through doors and around screens, getting in your (well, my) hair and clothes. Unreal.

Just thought I'd share.

the damn things are everywhere here in Logan, UT.

They do great things for fresh gardens, but the gradens are gone now. So what is up with the invasion??

[iceman]

I dunno if I'm a lady killer, but I'm sure as hell a ladybug killer. You can't help it if you go outside, they're all over the damn place, it's like walking on popcorn.

[Lumpy]

Problem-Lady bug swarm

Solution- Shop-Vac

[Keoni]

You're lyin'...they're cockroaches, aren't they?

[iceman]

Dang, Keoni, you busted me.

[truth]

Asian ladybugs...attracted to bright reflective surfaces this time of year as it reminds them of the white granite cliffs they returned to to mate each fall in the far east. Once the temps stay below 60 degrees they will become less active. Best not to crush them as they stink, and although they do not break the skin, they do bite. Try sweeping them and putting em back outside so they can do their thing. They are a helpful critter, eating aphids and other parasitic annoyances on your plants all summer.

My name is Cliff...Cliff Claven.

[iceman]

I was telling some friends that they sting, and they were laughing at me.

So, thanks, Mr. Claven.

[truth]

Originally posted by iceman
they were laughing at me.

Happens alot huh?

[iceman]

Yup.

But at least this time they were wrong. Now I can go on.

[Sublime]

I hate the ones that bite. I always take a time out and stomp the little critters. Good for the garden or not we are being overrun with them. They our starting to creep in our house through places you never thought possible.

[tuffy109]

http://productimages.vstore.com/prod...4/fullsize.jpg

[powpowpowderwheels]

Originally posted by truth
Asian ladybugs...They are a helpful critter, eating aphids and other parasitic annoyances on your plants all summer.

My name is Cliff...Cliff Claven.

But the bastards killed off all the natural ladybugs (the red ones). The ones you see are orange.

[xboat]

they've been all over the freakin place around here for the past 3 weeks. seems to be a pretty big problem if they are thick right this minute, from utah to bahston? crazy shit...

edit - research:

The multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is native to Asia but occurs in many areas of the United States. This beneficial insect was imported and released as early as 1916 in attempts to naturally control certain insect pests. But the first populations were not found in this country until 1988 in Louisiana near the busy port of New Orleans.

Over the years, federal, state and private entomologists released the insect at a number of locations. But it was not detected in these places until some years after it had became established in Louisiana. In addition, accidental entries have occurred via imported nursery items at ports in Delaware and South Carolina. Thus, it is uncertain whether the beetle's establishment resulted from planned releases, accidental entries or both.

[bagtagley]

I saw a thing on Discovery a couple years ago about bugs. They were talking about how during mild winters, Lady Bugs will seek shelter somewhere outside that blocks the wind and major elements, and that they can freeze to a certain temp without dying. However, if they sense a sever winter, they will seek shelter somewhere warmer (inside a house for example).

Could be a sign of a good winter. Or, maybe I watch too much tv.

[iceman]

Originally posted by bagtagley
Or, maybe I watch too much tv.

heh. Possibly.

[truth]

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/beneficial/amlb01.jpg/

Introduction

The multicolored Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas was introduced from Asia both purposefully for classical biological control of arthropod pests and accidently into the United States many times during the twentieth century. It finally became established and quickly spread over the entire United States sometime in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

Distribution

By 1994, Harmonia axyridis had colonized the United States from Florida to Canada and from coast to coast.

Description

H. axyridis adults occur in several color patterns or "morphs" varying from solid orange, orange with black spots to red with black spots. They should not be mistaken for another introduced ladybird from Europe, the sevenspotted lady bettle, Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, that is often found feeding on the same insect hosts and plants.

Use in Classical Biological Control

H. axyridis is a voracious predator of arthropod pests such as aphids, mites, thrips, scale and Lepidoptera eggs. As a predator, it is beneficial for most of the year and has contributed to a decrease in pesticide use in a myriad of orchard and other crops. Both H. axyridis larvae and adults feed on pests and quickly build up to large numbers locally.

Status as an Overwintering Pest

Unfortunately, like many of our native ladybird species, H. axyridis adults aggregate in high numbers to overwinter. In Japan, H. axyridis overwinter en masse in rocky outcrops on the sides of mountains and in other structures similar to the behavior of the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin- Méneville, in the U.S. However, unlike other ladybirds in the U.S., H. axyridis is attracted to light colored dwellings and other manmade objects which it uses as overwintering sites. As a result of this behavior, H. axyridis enters dwellings it is attracted to through cracks, crevices and other small openings around windows, doors and roofs.
Flight to overwintering quarters is triggered by the onset of cold weather and scarcity of prey, occurs at different times from year to year, and occurs progressively later from northern to southern latitudes: October in Michigan and November-January in north Florida. These mass migrations to overwintering sites proceed over a period of a few days in the north to a few weeks or more in the southern United States, again dependent on local weather. During the overwintering phenomena, the ladybirds respond to and aggregate in large numbers on dwellings which usually are white, beige or tan, although occasionally darker colored buildings also are used. Usually these dwellings have walls facing in the general directions of south to west which in the fall months due to the sun's lower azimuth are highly reflective of sunlight. These bright reflective surfaces shine intensely and are visible and attractive to the ladybirds from long distances. This is especially true for areas of the United States and Canada which are hilly or mountainous, e.g., Tennessee and New York, where light colored dwellings in the mountains or higher elevations may be visible for miles.

As a result of this overwintering behavior, H. axyridis are a nuisance during and after the flight periods as they aggregate in the walls and other parts of dwellings. H. axyridis may enter houses in large numbers, 15,000 to 20,000 is not uncommon. Inside the walls, floors, attics, crawl spaces, etc., of dwellings, they crawl around looking for cool places to spend the winter. With large numbers of ladybirds, this annoying movement can be heard from inside the house. Moreover, the interior walls of the dwellings are often warmer than the ladybirds require for dormancy. Therefore, they continue to crawl around and often exit the dwelling walls into the interior over the course of the winter or in spring. Once in the warm interior, they fly around and land on walls, drapes, furniture, etc., causing much general annoyance to the human inhabitants. The ladybirds are of special consternation to inhabitants that are entomophobic (fear of insects). H. axyridis also produces a yellow viscous, foul-smelling defensive compound when it is disturbed that may soil whatever it contacts. Therefore, when people disturb them or try to remove them by sweeping, with vacuum cleaners or with other tools, the foul odor spoils the air and yellow spots on people, expensive furniture and drapes result.

This phenomenon of large aggregations of overwintering H. axyridis is all too common now across the United States and Canada. The ladybirds often return to the same buildings year after year. In addition to the problem for affected homeowners, the situation is a black eye on classical biological control, which in most cases is a highly touted and effective alternative to the use of chemical pesticides.

Management
Recommendations for protecting buildings from overwintering H. axyridis have not been fully developed. All buildings infested by these ladybirds should have any cracks, crevices or holes in the exterior walls and especially around windows and doors sealed or caulked to prevent entry. The ladybirds often enter attics and can accumulate in large numbers in these spaces over the years. Once the ladybirds are inside a building there are several options for removal. The best option is to purchase a black light trap and use it in rooms where ladybirds are observed as soon as they are seen. The light traps when operated at night are very effective.
Use of a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning tools that handle the beetles roughly, while effective, will result in production of the defensive compound by the ladybirds with its unwanted side effects as previously described. Despite their overwintering behavior, H. axyridis are very valuable as natural enemies of many insect pests and should be tolerated and conserved when possible.

Selected References

Anonymous. (October 2000). The multicolored Asian lady beetle. USDA, ARS Fact Sheet. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/lbeetle/index.html (16 March 2001).

Anonymous. (January 30, 2001). Camphor curbs Asian lady beetles. USDA, ARS Fact Sheet. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2001/010130.htm (16 March 2001).

Anonymous. (October 2000). Trapping system for flying insects. USDA, ARS Fact Sheet. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2000/001030.trap.pdf (23 March 2001).

Chapin, J.B., and V.A. Brou. 1991. Harmonia axyridis Pallas, the third species of the genus to be found in the United States (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 93: 630-635.

Coderre, D., E. Lucas, and I. Gagné. 1995. The occurrence of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Canada. Can. Entomol. 127: 609-611.

Dreistadt, S.H., K.S. Hagen, and L.G. Bezark. 1995. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), first western United States record for the Asiatic lady beetle. Pan-Pacific Entomol. 71: 135-136.

Jones, S.C. and J. Boggs. Multicolored Asian lady beetle. Ohioline. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hse-fact/1030.html (10 July 2002).

Nalepa, C.A., K.A. Kidd, and D.I. Hopkins. The multicolored Asian lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): orientation to aggregation sites. J. Entomol. Sci. 35: 150-157.

Obata, S. 1986. Determination of hibernation site in the ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Kontyu, Tokyo. 54: 218-223.

Oi, F.M. and W. Foshee. (April 1998). The multicolored Asian lady beetle. IPM Alabama. http://www.aces.edu/department /ipm/ladybugs.htm (16 March 2001).

Tangley, L. 1999. Ladybug, fly outta my home. U.S. News and World Report. Jan. 25.

Tedders, W.L., and P.W. Schaefer. 1994. Release and establishment of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the southeastern United States. Entomol. News. 105: 228-243.


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Author: Russell F. Mizell III, North Florida Research and Education Center, Monticello, University of Florida
Photographs: Russell F. Mizell
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-204
Publication Date: March 2001
Copyright 2001 University of Florida

[gonzo]

gittin press now...
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...ybug_invasion/

[Steven S. Dallas]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Just kidding. I'm not scared of ladybugs.

[phUnk]

Originally posted by iceman
I was telling some friends that they sting, and they were laughing at me.

If I ever caught some ladybugs stinging and laughing at me, they'd pay.

They'd pay with their lives.

[iceman]

Not only was that a poorly constructed sentence, it was also a lie. I have no friends.