Not necessarily. A hot summer by itself does not reliably predict how many Asian lady beetles will gather on homes in the fall.
Asian lady beetles live outdoors for most of the year. They feed heavily on aphids and other small insects. The amount of available prey, growing conditions, and weather over the course of the season all affect how many are around by fall. If warm weather happens to give them more food, then there might be more around, but it’s not a direct cause and effect.
But regardless of whether the population is normal or bigger than normal, you probably don’t want a bunch of them in your house. As temperatures start to drop, Asian lady beetles start to look for protected places to overwinter. Large numbers may suddenly appear on houses, especially on warm, sunlit exterior walls.
Gathering on walls alone is not a big problem. But if they get inside, it’s an annoyance throughout the whole winter. Small gaps around windows, doors, siding, soffits, vents, rooflines, and utility penetrations can lead into attics or wall voids. Beetles may spend much of winter hidden there before indoor heat or a sunny winter day causes them to emerge into living areas.
If you see a lot of Asian lady beetles on the side of your house, that’s your cue to start looking at nearby screens, frames, seams, and vents. Make sure they don’t have easy ways inside.
Asian lady beetles generally become a nuisance indoors. They don’t feed on your structure. They can release a yellowish defensive fluid when disturbed or crushed, however, and that can leave odor or staining behind. Some people find that Asian lady beetles make their allergies worse. No matter the situation, you just probably don’t want them inside all winter long. So it’s best to prevent them from getting inside in the fall.
If Asian lady beetles or other pests are gathering around or entering your Fenton–Brighton home, Mosquito Squad of Fenton - Brighton can help with pest control around the property. Call (810) 202-9771 or request a free quote online.
