Often mistaken for ladybugs, Asian lady beetles are small, dome-shaped insects that come in a wide variety of colors, including red, orange, tan, and black. Like ladybugs, Asian lady beetles typically have black spots. But some are black with orange spots. In general, these beetles are larger than ladybugs, but the size difference isn’t noticeable. The way to tell these two insects apart is to look at the shape of the body. Ladybugs are round. Asian lady beetles are oval. You can also look for the M-shaped black mark on an Asian lady beetle’s pronotum to tell that it isn’t a ladybug. The pronotum is the plate-like structure that protects the thorax.
Yes. They are known to bite, but they don’t “officially” bite. Asian lady beetles use their mandibles to pinch when they feel threatened. They don’t bite to draw blood, like other biting pests. For this reason, a bite from an Asian lady beetle is minor.
These insects can create mild issues for us, our pets, and our plants. Here are a few examples:
These insects often enter structures in large numbers as the weather cools. When they do, they can cause harm, as we pointed out above. Let’s start with what we’ve mentioned already.
The best way to deal with Asian lady beetles is to develop a strong offensive plan that starts with evaluating potential attractants.
There are only a few attractants that bring Asian lady beetles onto a property. Their presence can alert you to another issue: aphids.
Your yard is an ecosystem. By altering conditions that attract one kind of pest, you can deter another.
These little beetles are cold-blooded and thermotactic. What this means is that they prefer to be where it’s warm. When it gets cold outside, they seek warmer temperatures inside. The time to deal with Asian lady beetles is just before the cooler temperatures arrive.
These insects enter homes the same way other insects do; they come in through any opening they can find. Here are some things to consider:
An Asian lady beetle doesn’t need much of a gap, crack, or hole. At full size, it is only about ⅕ of an inch wide.
You can apply pest-proofing materials. Inspect your exterior, locate potential entry points, and apply the following:
You could also get a pest control service plan for your property to keep these, and many other pests, out. If you need assistance with pest control, reach out to us. We’re here to help.
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