Why Are Lady Bugs A Problem?

Inevitably lady bugs start showing up once fall arrives in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee.  Why is that?  Well, Asian lady beetles, as they are formally called, don’t like the cool weather just like many of us.  Once they know it’s coming, their goal is to get away from it and that usually means they invade our homes.  If you’re thinking to yourself, what’s the big deal, read on to discover why infesting lady bugs are a problem.

No, lady bugs aren’t dangerous?

Before we discuss what makes these bugs problematic, let’s put to bed any concerns relating to your family or your home’s health. Lady bugs are a nuisance pest; they will not introduce illness into your house nor will they eat away at the structure.  Not a threat but worth mentioning, is the faint but foul odor that you may notice these pests giving off if they are agitated.  

So if lady bugs are not dangerous, why are they a problem?

Excellent question!  You know how a little ice cream tastes good but a lot of ice cream consumed will give you a stomach ache?  Well lady bugs are kind of like that.  They’re pretty, harmless and kind of fun to spot out and about. Now if you take several thousand lady bugs and cover one side of your house (outside, of course), you may think differently.  You may become annoyed.  You may be worried that they are going to find a way to sneak inside and infest your home.  And you’d be right to worry, especially once fall arrives and these bugs need to find shelter.  Attracted to light colors and reflective items like windows, lady bugs will congregate on sunny sides of homes and buildings, typically on the southern and western sides.  Slipping through tiny cracks and crevices, they’ll make their way inside.  Once indoors, Middle TN homeowners may see these bugs gathering around door frames and windows.  They’re also likely to find these bugs in the attic and if they could see inside wall voids, in there as well.  Does the thought of sharing your home for a winter with bugs put you at ease? We didn’t think so which is why we’ve put together a few tips to stop lady bugs and other pests from invading your home this fall.

Lady bug prevention tips

Exclusion, exclusion, exclusion! The act of not letting someone (or in this case, something) in is called exclusion.  While not nice to bar people from entering your home, it’s perfectly acceptable to exclude pests.  You can do this by implementing the following measures:

• Seal all cracks and crevices on the exterior of the structure that would permit bugs entry

• Install door sweeps on exterior doors

• Eliminate gaps around doors, windows, and areas where utilities enter

• Cover windows with screens that are free of rips and tears

• Should you find lady bugs in your home, we recommend vacuuming them up and disposing of the vacuum bag right away.  You don’t want to give them an opportunity to crawl out and find a new spot.  

Is there a professional solution for lady bugs?

If you have a zero tolerance for bugs in your home, we think you might like our All-For-One Complete Care home pest control program.  This year-round plan provides protection from over 47 of Tennessee’s most common household pests as well as termites. PLUS it targets outdoor pests like lady bugs!  

You don’t have to put up with lady bugs this fall or other insects and rodents trying to take over your space; contact All-American Pest Control for help and let us put our 50+ years of pest control expertise to work.  Serving Nashville, Brentwood and Middle Tennessee, we’ll send out an experienced pest control technician who is committed to solving your pest problem, no matter how severe!