Asian Beetles Extermination Minneapolis MN
Lady bugs surrounding and invading your home by the thousands? Maybe even millions? It’s not lady bugs, it probably the Asian beetle. Asian beetles have become a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Asian beetles, which are sometimes mistaken for ladybugs or lady bird beetles, are familiar insects in many parts of the United States.
Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between insect species. The ladybug, for example, is often confused with the Asian lady beetle. The latter has only recently been introduced to North America, whereas the former has been around for some time. Although the two types of beetle share similar appearances, their behaviors are markedly different.
Since it was first spotted in Minnesota in 1994, the Asian lady beetle—which is beneficial to pest-control in agriculture—has sought out winter homes inside our homes, these bothersome, but otherwise harmless insects have been invading Minnesotan homes and businesses in enormous numbers over the last ten years.
Asian Beetles
For the most part, Asian beetles are beneficial predators that eat aphids, scale, insects, and many other pests that injure plants in gardens, landscapes and agricultural settings. However, in many places the multicolored Asian lady beetle has become a household pest.
This beetle feeds on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that dwell on crops and trees. Soybean crops are reportedly a favorite of Asian beetles and when the soybean crops get harvested in late summer/early fall, so watch out! Asian beetles will be migrating to find a new place to live and breed. They will follow you into your house, they will haunt your dreams, and chances are good that they are already creeping into a space near you. Maybe your home!
Asian Lady Beetle Damage
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
The greatest damage caused by the multicolored Asian lady beetle is the discomfort they give to homeowners. It is not uncommon for tens of thousands of beetles to congregate in attics, ceilings and wall voids. When the heating is turned on the beetles tend to move around inside these voids and exit into the living areas of the home. They come in huge swarms, and no matter how many you get rid of, more keep coming!
In addition to biting, they exude a foul-smelling, yellow defensive chemical, which will sometimes cause spotting on walls and other surfaces. Most people are only annoyed by the odor of these chemicals. However, some individuals experience an allergic reaction to the defensive excretions. Sinus irritations and mild skin irritations have been reported subsequent to encounters with the Asian beetle. It is probably not an over-reaction to wash hands or other skin after contacting the beetles. In at least one study, the severity of sinus problems subsided with the removal of beetles from the home.
Prevention and Control
Preventing the lady beetles from entering is the best approach to keeping them from becoming a household nuisance. Caulking exterior cracks and crevices–before the lady beetles seek overwintering sites– is the best way to keep them out. This will also keep out other unwanted insects such as bees and wasps.
Lady beetles that enter wall spaces in the fall may remain there, without entering living areas, until they depart in spring to search for food. But some may become active on warm days in late winter or early spring and move into living areas.
Sweeping and vacuuming are effective methods for removing these lady beetles from living areas. Using insecticides indoors for control of the lady beetles is not typically recommended unless the infestation is very heavy, and professional advice should be sought. Hiring a professional Minnesota Exterminator, is your best bet in getting rid of these overwhelming bugs.
