Ladybug Infestation: Swarms Attack and How to Get Rid of Ladybugs

by Amy Judd | October 20, 2009 at 01:45 pm

4846 views | 52 Recommendations | 10 comments

Residents in the dorms at Connecticut University are complaining of ladybug infestations over the weekend with thousands of the pests swarming on their windows and in their closets, but this is not the only place that ladybug infestations are happening.

Due to the colder weather settling in, the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles are moving inside peoples' homes, but the people don't want them there. A few ladybugs are cute and delightful even; thousands of them are not.

Not that Google and Twitter are scientific tools, but people from all over are posting about swarms and infestations of the bugs, so it seems Connecticut is not the only ladybug-central Tuesday.

Ladybug facts:

They can bite, but it's very rare and only if they become agitated.
They don't lay eggs inside your house (thank goodness) and they don't carry disease.
They are friendly to your garden but when it's cold they will be drawn to lighter colored houses and older homes and as they leave behind pheromones they are attracted to the same places year after year.

But how can you get rid of ladybugs?

It's not a good idea to kill them because they are a useful beetle and they help your garden but there are some ways to prevent a ladybug infestation happening.

Many people vacuum them up when they are in the house and it can be a good idea to place a stocking over the tip of the vacuum cleaner so that they get caught in here and then you can release them quickly outside. Don't leave them in your vacuum cleaner bag; they will crawl right back out.

Use a ladybug Light Trap from the home improvement stores to trap them and then release them outside.

Seal up any cracks where they might get in; they can use any door window, pipe, outlet, so make sure you seal them up good and tight.

Outside your house you can try a residual insecticide around the exterior so that they won't want to cross that line in the first place.

Remember the best method is prevention, but once they are in your house it's best to get rid of them with a vacuum cleaner - anything else will only kill them or agitate them and then they will release a yellow substance that will stain your home.

Swarms have been found in San Francisco and New York; have you found any in your area?

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 16:12 on October 20th, 2009

Thanks for this, Amy. I do think it is important to note that "It's not a good idea to kill them because they are a useful beetle and they help your garden...".

usmcmom20 (not verified)

at 16:25 on October 20th, 2009

Every year at this time on a beautiful sunny day we get swarmed with lady bugs! Today was that day! Years ago the forestry dept. let them loose here to get rid of the afids. We never had a problem with afids, but the lady bugs are unbelievable! I spent 3 hours vacuuming, spraying and hosing them, just at the house! I had them in my clothes even though I had on a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up & tied! The garage walls were crawling, the truck, tools, doors, everything was crawling! My husband was screaming! How do we prevent them from coming back???

Skip Malley (not verified)

at 12:13 on October 23rd, 2009

We get them swarming aroung our big old white house by the hundreds of thousands. We spray the outside of the house before they swarm with a pesticide called Cynoff. It is very effective. They don't come into the house. Before we knew about the solution, I would suck up about 100 EVERY DAY in just our kitchen and dining room. Now we rarely see any inside. If they are already inside, use a bug fogger in each room. As always, read all instructions carefully and completely. Even if you kill every one you find, trust me, there will be plenty more again next year. Your gardens will be fine.

marianmo

at 19:53 on October 20th, 2009

know what they are like...best to capture them, put them out .......

Gref (not verified)

at 20:40 on October 20th, 2009

You can vac them up and sell them on Ebay. I will pay $5.00 plus shipping for 25 Lady Bugs for my greenhouse.

bri1234 (not verified)

at 14:56 on October 22nd, 2009

where are you located. Here in CT we have plenty. I can sell you as many as you want.Thanks

jefhow22

at 06:11 on October 21st, 2009

"Ladybug...Ladybug...Fly Away Home" (Peter, Paul, and Mary)

richard wilson (not verified)

at 16:44 on October 21st, 2009

I'm dorming at manhattan college in the Bronx, New York, and there are 8 or 9 lady bugs in my dorm. There are also thousands outside of the building. Pretty damn annoying >.>

Eileen S (not verified)

at 14:16 on October 22nd, 2009

I live in Mt. Kisco, NY and in all my 62 years I have never seen so many ladybugs (thousands) gather on my window screens and terrace. It is disgusting.