By Staff
It's a rare occasion when a foreign species is introduced without deleterious consequences. That's a lesson we just can't seem to learn. True to form is the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle. In case you’ve had your head buried in the sand, these are the beetles that look like our native lady beetle, or lady bug as I've always called them, but gathers in the spring and fall to invade our houses and otherwise make a general nuisance of themselves. Their color varies from a light yellowish orange to bright red and they may or may not have black spots on their back. Back in the 1970s the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided our own native lady beetles weren't good enough at their assigned task of aphid control so they brought in this foreigner from the Far East. The first introductions were in Louisiana and Mississippi. All seemed well and good and the alien implants were expanded to other states by both governmental agencies and individuals.
With 20/20 hindsight we now know things were too well and good. The Asian Lady Beetle found their new home just peachy and expanded like wild fire. They now inhabit all the Eastern and Midwest states and have wandered as far west as Oregon. The deed is done and there's no going back. How good or bad this is depends on your circumstances. As predicted, the Asian Lady Beetles are mopping up plant and crop destroying aphids with a vengeance. They are known to dine on at least fifty species of aphids and each beetle consumes hundreds upon hundreds during its two to three year life span. If you're a farmer or gardener with an aphid infestation that's a good thing.
If you're like the rest of us, though, these bugs are a major pain in the petute. Unlike our native lady bugs, these little snots bite with vigor. The experts say &#8221they may nip on rare occasion.“; Yea right. These guys need to stand amongst the dead elms adjacent to my prairie when the beetles are gathering to hibernate to see how stupid they sound. It's like being attacked by a swarm of bees. Not only do they readily bite, if you crush an Asian Lady Beetle the gore emits a foul odor and leaves a nearly unremovable stain. It can even permanently blemish car paint. Starting about now they move into secluded areas of houses and outbuildings by the hundreds where the more adventuresome crawl all over the walls, floors and ceilings. Others pile up dead in attics, basements and inside the walls. In large enough quantity the carcasses stink and can even cause breathing problems with asthmatics. They have become so prolific the plant eating larvae are destroying the very crops their parents were brought here to defend. They readily eat alfalfa, wheat and other small grains as well as Christmas trees, apple and peach trees and a variety of ornamental plants.
The largest objection for most of us is home invasion. They enter buildings in fall to hibernate. They don't cause structural damage but are just a nuisance. The first line of defense is to seal up every crack and hole that allows entry. Use high quality silicone caulk to seal around window and door frames and gaps in siding. Install weather strips around doors and windows and screen attic vents. Pesticides have limited benefit but may be called for on log houses or old houses that are impossible to seal up. When the beetles begin to show up, spray it on the EXTERIOR around cracks and other access openings. Pesticides containing Bifenthrin, Deltamethrin, Cyfluthrin, Tralomethrin or Esfenvalerate have proven effective. Interior pesticides are largely ineffective because the beetles are most always in inaccessible areas where you can't get at them. No, the &#8221bug bombs“; don't work.
Traps are another option. Lady beetles are attracted by light and to try and atone for their sins the U.S.D.A. offers a lady beetle trap utilizing a black light (for sale, of course, at a hefty price). Ohio State University has designed a homemade trap utilizing a light bulb and milk jugs. Get the plans at their website, www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ipm/lady/blt1.htm. Carpe diem.