… fly away home… just not MY home!
In our post titled “Whatch Wanna Know,” Drew asked about his ladybug infestation:
My garden has been chemical free now for five years and the number of beneficial insects has grown tremendously (so much so that I have a lady bug problem INSIDE my house). Question: Should I still be prepared to control non-beneficial insects through non-chemical means or is it just a free-for-all battle of the insects and I cross my fingers that they work it out amongst themselves?
While these little crawlies are, generally, a beneficial insect, the species Harmonia axyridis can become a wee bit of a pest when they decide to take their winter shelter in your home. The side effects of this invasion can range from delightful (as in the discovery of a few stray beetles roaming around the window sill or the bathroom mirror) to annoying (slightly more than a few… more like twenty or thirty in one place) to downright reminiscent of the creeps from watching a bad sci-fi bug flick (a giant ball of ladybugs hanging over your bed in the middle of the night while you lay there screaming that you want your mommy).
And, while the most severe might send a shiver of the creeps up your spine and cause you to imagine little beetles crawling down your collar, the only real damage you might incur will be in your wallet area when you call an expensive exterminator to rid your home of the otherwise lovely little guests. So what to do? Get out the vacuum!
Yup… it’s that simple… get out the ol’ vacuum and suck ‘em right up. The best method we’ve found for dealing with the little interlopers is to suction them directly into the canister section of the vacuum, walk that outside or empty them into a bag, and release them far far far far away from you. Chances are, if it is still not warm enough for them outside, they’ll probably come back.
You can also see if there is a local “rescue” for your ladybug friends. Yes… there are people who go around with vacuums and capture these little ones for release in commercial growing spaces like nurseries and farms. If you don’t have someone like this in your area, don’t be afraid to take matters into your own hands and give your guests and one way ticket to a nice “country home.”
Now, you could just sweep them up with your hands… you COULD… I’m not sayin’ I’d do that. Why? Did you ever play a little too rough with a ladybug when you were a kid? Ever get that yellow goop on you? Turns out, this is a defense mechanism for the insect and not only is it a little gross, it stains like all get out! Go trying to round up an entire flock/herd/pack/whatever of ladybugs and you’re likely to end up with a nasty stain on your wall or carpet or whatever else they are all perched on. Oh… and, as with any defense mechanism, there is more to the goop than the stain. A concentrated gathering of ladybugs can really work up a stink if they start spreading too much of this goop around. I know… EEEWWWW!!
In everything we could find researching the subject, there is nothing written about ladybugs actually carrying any diseases. However, there are warnings that large numbers of them (the flock/herd/pack/gaggle thing) could cause allergic reactions or asthma distress in people who are prone to such things. They might be tiny, but it is another living organism in an enclosed space with you so there is bound to be some impact on your domicile’s ecosystem.
Next year? Seal up around your windows, doors, drains, vents and any other access paths they might follow. You might deter them if you can really get a tight enough perimeter established. Otherwise… just keep that vacuum handy. If you are having a LOT of trouble with the balance of your natural ecosystem, try putting out some bird feeders around those areas of your home where you suspect they might be coming in. The birds would enjoy the little treat and could be a good deterrent.
So, in the end, better safe than sorry. Keep the house sealed well, get a good canister vacuum and don’t let ‘em give you the willies.
Thanks to everyone who submitted questions! We’ve been enjoying the challenge after a winter of our gardening brains being slightly dormant. Look for our answers to your questions right back here every week! And, if you have more… don’t be afraid to ask… we’ll do our best…
talk to you soon…
The Shibaguyz
