That’s not a ladybug creeping into your home. Watch out for this invasive bug in Wichita
Your window sill may become home to one invasive species over the winter.
The Asian lady beetle is commonly found in Wichita homes later in the year, looking for a warm place for the winter, said Raymond Cloyd, a professor with Kansas State University’s entomology department.
But thankfully, annoyance is the main issue these bugs usually cause.
“They’ll congregate on the south side of the building, around the window sill [and] window corners, and they’ll stay there throughout the winter. They don’t move very much, they don’t bite, they don’t transmit diseases,” Cloyd said.
The Asian lady beetle and ladybugs are in the same family. Asian lady beetles are orange in color while ladybugs are bright red. The number of black spots on the insects’ backs are also different. Lady bugs usually have around 10, and Asian lady beetles can have about 19 spots, though some have none at all. But if you have a large number of these insects in your home, they’re more than likely Asian lady beetles.
In the warmer seasons, Asian lady beetles can be found almost everywhere outdoors in Kansas, Cloyd said. And once the weather starts heating up, Asian lady beetles in your home won’t be as much of a problem.
“In the spring, they’ll start being active because they need … metabolic food sources, so then they’ll be looking for places to go outside,” Cloyd said.
Asian lady beetles can be beneficial in the warmer months because they eat on aphids and soft-bodies insects that can cause damage to gardens or landscapes.
How can I keep Asian lady beetles out of my home?
The best way to keep any insect out of your home this fall and winter is to seal any cracks that could serve as an entryway for insects.
“[You should] seal cracks and crevices everything in the foundation in the home, keep doors closed and don’t provide any openings for [insects],” Cloyd said.
Keeping your home clean can especially help during this time of the year — especially the kitchen, where insects can find food sources and remain there.
If you’re dealing with Asian lady beetles, Cloyd recommends vacuuming the bugs into a container and setting them free outdoors. You should also call a professional exterminator if you aren’t able to deal with the problem yourself.
