You’re most likely seeing Asian lady beetles, which look a lot like ladybugs. They like to overwinter in homes and get inside through various entry points like the cracks along window trim, siding seams and junctions, and unsealed vents.
If you’ve ever seen a bunch of ladybugs in your home against windows and light fixtures on a warm January day, you likely wondered what was causing this to happen. The first thing to know is that you’re most likely seeing the ladybug look-alike, Asian lady beetles. They move inside homes around October in order to overwinter. Then during “false spring” days with warmer weather, they try to go outside by heading toward the light. But their senses are not evolved for interior living, so they wind up on windows and light fixtures instead.
In the autumn, these beetles will mass on sun-warmed exterior walls. From there, they look for places to stay in the winter. When they find gaps like cracks along window trim or siding seams and junctions, they use those to move inside. Sometimes they can get into unsealed vents, openings for pipes, wires, and cables, and even gaps along the roofline (seams, vents, weep holes, and so on). For the most part, they settle in wall voids and on the edges of attics and stop there until warmer weather makes them want to go outside.
To fix the problem, you’ll want to vacuum beetles rather than swat them. When crushed, they release a yellow fluid that can stain window sills and fabrics. Empty the vacuum canister outside. As for the underlying issue, the next time fall comes around, seal gaps that could allow them to come inside. A professional in pest control can help you do this if you’re not sure how.
If you are tired of Asian lady beetles getting into your home, Mosquito Squad of Rhode Island can help. Mosquito Squad's home and yard coverage helps prevent outdoor pests from working their way indoors. This helps you protect the inside by sealing off the outside.
