Asian Lady Beetle vs. Ladybug: How Waukesha Homeowners Can Tell the Difference

Ladybugs are cute and lovable creatures popularly made into outdoor decor, crafts, stuffed animals, and child costumes. Harmless to humans, they benefit your garden by eating harmful pests, and they stay outdoors all year round. Their cousins, the Asian lady beetles, can be quite a nuisance, though. As temperatures drop in the fall, Asian lady beetles begin seeking warm shelter to hibernate through the winter. They are attracted to warm exterior walls, and you may see large numbers start to gather around your home. If given the chance, they will find their way indoors, causing an issue inside as well. If you are a homeowner, you may find you need Asian beetle control in Waukesha, WI.

Ladybugs and Asian Lady Beetles Differ in Appearance

At first glance, Asian lady beetles can be confused for the well-loved ladybugs. Both insects can have red coloring and black markings with a similar body shape, but on closer inspection, differences emerge. Ladybugs are more consistent in appearance, with a round body, bright red wings, symmetrical black spots on the back, and a black head with small white “cheeks” on each side. Asian lady beetles can be bright red like the ladybugs but vary more often into yellow, orange, and brown hues. Their bodies are more oval-shaped than round, and their spots tend to be less symmetrical and more sporadic across their backs. The markings on their heads, though, show the most distinctive difference. Asian lady beetles have larger white “cheeks,” and they have a clear white “M” or “W” on their necks.

Ladybugs and Asian Lady Beetles Differing Behavior

Not only are ladybugs and Asian lady beetles distinctive in appearance, but their behaviors are also unique. They both eat aphids, which can be beneficial to your garden, but Asian lady beetles also venture out in their diet and may cause damage to crops by eating fruit like apples and grapes. Ladybugs are gentle in nature and leave humans and their dwellings alone, staying outdoors throughout the year. Asian lady beetles, on the other hand, have very different behavior patterns. Instead of finding shelter outdoors through the winter, Asian lady beetles seek warmth and shelter initially on sunny exterior walls but may take advantage of holes and gaps around your home and find their way indoors. Once they find a warm, cozy spot, they send out pheromones like a signal to other Asian lady beetles to join them. What’s worse is that when threatened or crushed, they emit a foul-smelling, yellow fluid that can cause staining in your home. This is called reflex bleeding. All of these behaviors make Asian lady beetles a major nuisance!

Waukesha, WI Asian Beetle Control

In the fall, it’s important to inspect your home for any potential entry points along your windows, doors, vents, siding, and foundation. Caulk or repair any spaces or gaps that you see. Add weatherstripping to your doors if needed. If they do come indoors, it’s important not to crush them, as they release stinky, yellow fluid that can stain walls and furniture and potentially cause skin irritation. Instead, vacuum them up and throw away the bag outside. If you leave them inside your vacuum, they can crawl out or create a foul odor in your canister.

If you are seeing large numbers of Asian lady beetles, Mosquito Squad Plus of Waukesha County has the professional training and treatment options to help control their numbers in and around your home. Call us today at (262) 333-0395 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation quote!