Harvest can change nearby habitat, but seasonal overwintering behavior is usually the bigger reason Asian lady beetles gather on homes in fall.
They look like ladybugs, but they’re not, and they can be a pain when they work their way into your home in the fall. They tend to do well in fields because there are a lot of aphids and insects that they can feed on. But when harvest time comes, their environment changes around them and the pressure builds.
From the beetles’ perspective, vegetation disappears, prey becomes a lot less available, and machinery disturbs insects. That leaves them in need of a better place to stay, and your home might fit the bill. But even if the harvest didn’t cause this problem, falling temperatures would be bad in their own right. That can send adults searching for protected overwintering locations.
Asian lady beetles tend to gather on sunlit exterior walls, often light-colored ones facing south or west. When on those walls, they follow the cracks and work their way into windows, siding, soffits, and vents.
If you want to help prevent Asian lady beetles from taking over your home in the winter, the best thing you can do is start sealing gaps on the exterior of your home. You can do this by using caulk on cracks, replacing worn weatherstripping, and repairing broken vents or screens as you find them. If you don’t know where to start, look at the places where Asian lady beetles tend to gather. If you deny them access to your wall voids or attic, they will be a lot less likely to stay there for the winter.
If Asian lady beetles are becoming a problem around your Central Illinois property, Mosquito Squad of Central Illinois can help with pest control around the property. Call (217) 516-3141 or request a free quote online.
