I’ve got ladybugs swarming in my house. I know that they are beneficial to my garden but what can I do about them invading my house?
It is common for ladybugs to swarm under wood house siding or sometimes even gather in large clusters indoors. This usually happens in the fall as the weather cools and ladybugs are preparing to go dormant. There are several names that this beneficial predatory insect is known by including ladybug, ladybird and lady beetle. Here in the United States, there are over 450 different species of these colorful beetles.
When I was growing up, having a ladybug light on my arm was a sign of good luck, but when they converge by the hundreds on your home, that’s a little too much luck! However, they are helpful in the garden because they eat harmful insects, most notably aphids. One lady beetle can consume over 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, so I recommend a way of providing temporary housing for the beetles until they are needed in the spring.
If you find that your home has been invaded by ladybugs, simply vacuum the bugs up using a clean vacuum bag – don’t use a broom as this causes them to ‘reflex bleed’ and their blood has an offensive odor. You can store the vacuum bag in a cool place until spring when you can release them into your garden.