Yes, they are showing up again for some people and will be showing up shortly for others. Remember when the Asian lady beetles came out in record numbers in the fall of last year? Well, once again, you may have noticed some activity inside your home or building. How could this be? You haven’t seen them for months but now they are crawling everywhere.
Last year, when temperatures fell, the lady beetles appeared by the thousands around homes and buildings. They moved into cracks, walls, and any other areas they could use to gain access into the home. The beetles have spent many months in a sort of hibernation mode where there was no activity at all. Then, when the weather started to warm up again, the beetles have become active. This usually occurs in late winter or early spring. They can appear in many places within the home from the living room to the kitchen.
Lady beetles are not harmful to furniture or other items in the home and fortunately do not infest stored food. Sweeping or vacuuming them up are two ways to get them out of the home. Just remember that if you vacuum them up, you should empty the bag right away because the lady beetles can crawl back out.
Asian lady beetles may seem like a pest if in the home, but they are definitely the “good guys” in our yards and gardens. Their yearly heightened activity in and around your home or building is just part of their life journey.
For more information about the Asian Lady beetle, you can visit the Web at http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-214.pdf. You can also contact your Elkhart County Extension office for more information.
