• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
RTEC Treecare

RTEC Treecare

Expert Tree Care in the DC Metro Area | Call 703-573-3029 to talk to a Tree Care Expert.

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Serve
      • Government
      • Commercial Environmental Services
      • Residential
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Core Values
    • Testimonials
  • Plant Health Care
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Careers
    • We Are an Equal Opportunity Employer
    • We Welcome Veterans and Military Service Members
    • RTEC Benefits
    • RTEC Is Now Hiring
  • Blog
  • 703-573-3029
  • Contact Us

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles – LadyBugs Invading Your Home?

Resources: Community

Asian Lady BeetlesYou may have recently noticed clusters of ladybugs invading your home leaving unsightly yellow/orange fluid on your walls and windows.  You’ll be surprised to learn these aren’t actually ladybugs. Instead, they are Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis), known by many different names including Asian Ladybugs, Asian Ladybirds, and Harlequin Lady Beetles. Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles are a part of the same family as ladybugs but are a completely different species. This invasive species was introduced to North America from Asia in 1916 in an attempt to control aphids. When the species began rapidly reproducing in the late 1980s the negative habits of the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles became known.

Negative Aspects of Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles:

  • This invasive species is now the most common Coccinellidae species in North America, outcompeting many of the native ladybug species and taking over their habitats.
  • This species tends to travel in swarms and can bite hard enough to break human skin.
  • Unlike their native counterparts, these invasive prefer to overwinter inside homes.
  • When agitated they secrete a yellowish fluid that stains light color surfaces and has a terrible odor.
  • Some people are allergic to this invasive species and can experience allergic reactions when their homes are infested.
  • Although uncommon, Asian Lady Beetles can become lodged inside of a dog’s mouth if they try and eat the beetle, which can lead to ulcers and discomfort. (Signs are drooling, foaming at the mouth, or your dog stopping eating)

How To Tell The Difference Between Ladybugs & Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles?

Asian Lady Beetles tend to be larger than native ladybugs and have more spots. However; the easiest way to tell if you’re dealing with one of the natives or this invasive species is to look at the beetle’s head. Asian Lady Beetles will have black/brown markings that look like a W or M depending on which way you’re looking. A native ladybug’s head will be black with small white cheeks. Despite common misconception, you cannot tell them apart by their coloring. Native ladybugs and Asian Lady Beetles both vary in color between yellow, orange, and bright red.

Native LadyBug
Native LadyBug
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle

Native Ladybugs are actually considered beneficial insects and are a great option for naturally controlling soft-scale insects, spider mites, aphids and many other pests. Here at RTEC, we utilize Beneficial Insects on properties of clients that are chemically sensitive or prefer using organic options. To all our Beneficial Insect Release clients, you can rest assured that the Ladybugs we release on your property are native (Hippodamia convergens) and do not have the habit of infesting your homes.


Want To Control Your Pests Naturally?

[aio_button align=”center” animation=”none” color=”orange” size=”small” icon=”none” text=”Learn More About Beneficial Insect Release” relationship=”dofollow” url=”https://rtectreecare.com/beneficial-insect-fighting-bad-insects-with-good-insects/”]

Or Call 703.573.3029


Infestations & Invasions:

As the weather grows colder, the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles leave their summer feeding sites in search of places to spend the winter. Unlike the native ladybugs, these Asian Lady Beetles prefer to spend the winter indoors living in your home’s cracks and crevices.

These beetles are drawn to light and color contrast. They are typically found on sunny exterior walls of your home, on window screens & sills, near lights, and on parts of your house where light and dark colors converge.

What Can You Do?

Asian Lady Beetles
Photo Courtesy of Ohio State

Seal Cracks & Tears: The best way to combat Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles is to keep them out of your home.

  1. Inspect your windows & exterior walls and make sure to seal all gaps or cracks you find.
  2. Check your window screens and screen doors for tears that Lady Beetles could enter through. Fix these tears or replace the screens to prevent entry.
  3. Seal gaps the lead to attics. That way if they do infest your attic you can prevent them from entering your living space.

Vacuum & Natural Remedies: If your home already has a problem with Lady Beetles the best course of action is to remove them.

  1. Once inside, the best course of action is to vacuum up the beetles. Vacuuming up these beetles will not usually kill them but it will allow you to remove them from your property. The easiest way to do this is to use a knee high nylon stocking inserted into your vacuum cleaner’s extension hose and held in place by a rubber band. When you are done vacuuming, remove the stocking and close it using the rubber band; this way the beetles won’t escape. Then you can dispose of the stocking and the Asian Lady Beetles in your outdoor trash.
  2. Although it has not been proven, some homeowners swear by burning lemon scented candles or spraying vinegar where Asain Lady Beetles congregate to deter them.

Primary Sidebar

Find a Certified Arborist in Your Area!

Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

Resources Library

  • Tree Trimming
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Tree Problems
  • Environmental Services
  • Seasonal Tree Care

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADDRESS:
2828 Mary Street
Falls Church, VA 22042

EMAIL: admin@rtectreecare.com
PHONE: 703.573.3029

Copyright © 2022 · RTEC Tree Care · All Rights Reserved

  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
  • Privacy Policy
  • COOKIE POLICY