#ladybeetles — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

It's that time of the year! And now I've been transporting #AsianLadyBeetles from the upstairs (where kitty spends a lot of her time), to the downstairs where I grow plants because ALB's eat #Aphids! Now, of course, they could crowd out #Ladybugs if they get out of control, so I won't be saving every single one of them. But still...

Multicolored Asian lady beetles

Quick facts

- The multicolored Asian lady beetle has become a nuisance in Minnesota.
- They cluster around buildings in large numbers during fall in search of protected sites for the winter
- Control measures should only be used to prevent entry of Asian lady beetles indoors.
- Multicolored Asian lady beetle and other lady beetle species feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that can damage plants in agricultural crops, gardens and landscapes.
- These are beneficial insects to farmers and gardeners.

Asian lady beetle as a household pest

Multicolored Asian lady beetles can be a nuisance when they occur in large numbers inside homes.

- They do not infest wood, destroy fabrics, eat food or damage other property.
- These lady beetles cannot sting and do not carry disease.

Some concerns with multicolored Asian lady beetles are:

- Some can bite hard enough to break human skin, causing minor, short-lived discomfort. These bites happen when the beetles are searching for moisture or food.
- They can secrete a strong-smelling yellowish liquid from the joints of their legs. This liquid can stain light-colored surfaces.
- Exposure to dead lady beetles in buildings can cause allergic reactions in some people"

[Not mentioned: They can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested!]

Learn more:
https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/multicolored-asian-lady-beetles

#SolarPunkSunday #NaturalPestControl #LadyBeetles