Lady Bugs are Swarming and Infesting My House!

Oct 15, 2014

You may have noticed in the past week or so (in Southern New Hampshire in particular) an influx of ladybugs. At first the number of ladybugs was rather small and scattered but now, they are all over the place.

Ladybugs will get into any area of the home that they are able to enter. Ladybugs can even infest the basement. Don’t be too concerned though, ladybugs are really harmless and thought to bring good luck.

What do ladybugs eat? Lady bugs only eat other bugs such as aphids, scale insects and plant mites.

Are ladybugs poisonous? Lady bugs are not poisonous and do not bite.

Why are ladybugs swarming and trying to invade my house now? It’s getting colder outside and ladybugs are looking for a warm place to spend the winter. They like homes with natural wood siding and homes that are in wooded areas that get lots of sunlight (homes with a lot of southern exposure for example).

How do lady bugs get into homes and basements? Ladybugs are able to get into homes through cracks and crevices. If you have an older home with a lot of cracks and crevices, you may find yourself hosting a ladybug swarm.

Basements are often damp and moist which is how bugs and spiders like it. By installing a vapor barrier and a basement humidifier, you can detract them from your basement. At Rescon, we have a whole bunch of basement waterproofing solutions for homeowners so they can use their basements again.

Will ladybugs lay eggs in my house? Ladybugs do not lay eggs in buildings. They use the buildings to hibernate over the winter and then leave during the Spring.

According to the “Ladybug Lady’, ladybugs release pheromones, it is sort of like “perfume” to attract other ladybugs. They use pheromones as a means of communication during mating and hibernation. Insect pheromones are very powerful. They can be detected by others up to a 1/4 mile away. This helps ladybugs find each other and it lets future generations know of a good place to “camp out” for the winter.

Some bug experts suggest leaving the ladybugs to hibernate in your home over the winter rather than fighting the infestation. Once Spring arrives and to prevent a future ladybug infestation inside your home, be sure to fix or close up all cracks and crevices your home may have; pay close attention to clapboards. You may also wish to purchase a ladybug house.

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More Lady Bug Infomation:

Check out these ladybug house ideas from Pinterest to learn more.

Visit Evergreen Growers to learn all about how ladybugs can be used as pest control in your garden.

If you’re a believer that ladybugs bring good luck, check out this article by Feng Shui practitioner Sally Painter.