The nation is experiencing swarms of ladybugs (also known as lady birds). The Today Show video below shows a swarm of lady bugs in Jefferson, Colorado. Lady bugs are new to the area shown in the video and many visitors came from miles away just to see them. But many other states have experienced ladybug swarms for long period of time. Lawrence, Kentucky is another town that has terrible ladybug swarms this time of year. Salt Lake City has an area called Ladybug Summit where millions can be seen toward the top this time of year.
About 10 years ago in Pennsylvania, farmers had aphids that were killing crops and trees, so the state decided to drop ladybugs in farmed areas all over the state, because it was the only bug that would eat the aphids. Over the past 10 years, the ladybug swarms have increased 100 fold, and have mutated into a strange version of the ladybug that bites. A legend behind ladybugs is that they are lucky, but many Pennsylvania locals curse the ladybugs and the state for bringing them in. Lady bugs seem to be attracted to white and when they swarm around white, they are much easier to see.
Ladybugs typically come out in the spring and the fall, and try to move inside when it gets cold. They have been known to freeze temporarily (overnight) and then come alive again when it gets warmer. Ladybug infestations are difficult to get rid of. People have tried to vacuum them out of their house, but more come. Some chemical bug sprays may work temporarily, but they can be dangerous to inhale.
For information about getting rid of ladybugs or preventing them from coming inside, click here for Get Rid of Things.com
Sources: Zip Code Zoo and Wikipedia
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Comments
I just saw three little lady bugs a boy at my son's school had in his hands -- and I was talking to a mom in Ohio about the ladybugs from a few years ago that were plentiful
I live in Michigan and they are all over the place. I do believe it is a takeover. I would personally advise everyone to stay indoors and armed.
I'm in Utah and they are all over the ceiling. It's creepy.
Yeah, but the lady bugs we had a few years ago weren't lady bugs. They are called Asian Beetles and look like lady bugs. I like to call them lady bug impostors because they have spots like lady bugs, but were more of an orange.
that video is making me feel all itchy.
I live in MA and have no hope left. The whole inside of my house, facing South no less, is white, with a cathedral ceiling I can't get to. It's insane.
I live in SE Penna. (Berks County) and I have a white barn. Yesterday and today it has thousands of these darker orange looking ladybugs (Asian?) all over it. This happened last year as well. Don't know what else to do but appreciate the show!
These beetles were brought in to aide farmers and have become an epidemic. They get really bad during harvest time and so far nothing seems to get rid of them. It is really creepy to look up at your ceiling and see a swarm of them and know there is nothing (short of constantly vacuuming them up) you can do to get rid of them. If anyone has any idea of how to get rid of them or keep them from getting inside that information would be greatly appreciated.
hi Maria...yesterday, after i posted this article i came across the article below. it says that the best way to get rid of them is to stop them from coming in the first place. sealing windows and door ways is the best thing to do (there are some photos and instructions included in the link below.) as soon as it starts to get cold, they look for anyway to get inside where it's warm. i hope this helps. :)
www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-lady-bugs.htm
Lady bugs that bite?? oh my there have been swarms in CA but they dont get into houses. thats kind of alarmning
The Asian Lady Beetle does bite! But this is not our native lady beetle and has become a big nuisance across the U.S. For more info from an entomologist's viewpoint, visit your local extension office's resources.
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