The return of the ladybugs . . .

[Bucky]

It's that time of year again when the farmers are harvesting their fields and the ladybugs are flying e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!!!  When you're outside make sure and keep your mouth shut . . . trust me, ladybugs DO NOT taste good!     Yuck . .  phooey. . .  ucky!!! 

Every time the outside door opens in comes a bunch of them and they like to hold a townhall meeting in the corners of whichever room they happen to be meeting in at the time.   You'll find a whole cluster of them in the corners.  Make sure and cover any beverage you have sitting out or they will be doing the backstroke in your cup!!   

Bucky

[Katybarstool]

 

Kathyx

[salsen]

We get something around here that at first we thought were ladybugs but learned they are not.  They are a copper color without the blackspots like a ladybug but they are the same size and shape.  We have been just overflowing with these pesky little things for the past four years.  Actually it has been since the Hurricane Katrina. I think they have migrated out of the woods. 

They love to flow out of bathroom light fixture or down the chain of the ceiling fan.  How do they get there to begin with?  One day I looked out my window and saw this cloud of something all around the trees in the backyard so out the door I went to investigate.  Well I ended up in a swarm of these itty bitty bugs and learned very quickly they sting like crazy.  I will not make that mistake twice.

I think what we get is the complete opposite of the ladybug.  Ladybug sounds so refined and genteel.  These nasty little critters are more like the devils personal friend LOL.

[Patze]

                                           

Patze

[eyeamdry]

When I was "out" on my 10 minute Bucky break today, I saw these darn lady bugs and some others I don't know what they are.  It's almost November for Pete's sake.  My 10 minutes turned into at least an hour cleaning out my car.  Wish I'd have the energy to do the other two.  Lucy

[Pisces24]

If they are yellow they are probably those Japanese beetles - they look like the ladybugs only different color.
I've go a few here too. But I have kitties so if any do get in the house, they'll be a goner by the end of the day. 

[Poochie]

Hi folks,
I'll take your ladybugs over these horrible "Wolf Spiders" that are invading our place.  Every year about this time, they start coming in the garage and all over the porch.  The minute you turn the porch light on, there are 8 or 10 of these monsters on the walls and floor of the porch. 

You walk out in the garage and there they are on the walls, the cars, the refrigerator, the washer/dryer, just everywhere.  We have tried spraying, but I think it just increases their size.

I had one drop off the ceiling on to my shoulder the other night when I put the dogs out.  I must have shook for an hour.   

Ewwww!!  I hate spiders. 

Pooh

[Bucky]

Pisces - no, these are the orange ones with black dots on their backs.

Pooh -  you gave me the shivers reading your post.  I DO NOT like spiders either.   Ok, I'll quit my complaining about these pesky ladybugs and keep them over your spiders.

The temperature has been cooler the last few days and we've had rain so not so many ladybugs the last few days outside.  Except the 25 or so inside the house in the corners of the rooms.     They have had to suspend harvesting the crops due to the recent rains - the fields are too wet.  I wonder when things dry out and they start harvesting again if we'll have another infestation of ladybugs?? 

Bucky

[Patze]

Okay Bucky, you've jinxed me!!!  I found one in my house, the first one of the year... 

You would have loved to watch which one of use (me or the cat) was going to get the little critter.  It was close, but I got it and moved it to the great out doors.


Patze

[lynnmarie219]

Yes...the last few days have been better due to the rain....but I'm sure that we will get them again when the farmers finish the fields......these things hurt when they bite too! Aren't they called Asian Beetles....the orange ones with the black dots??? No Ladybug would ever bite and act like that! 

[irish]

Pooh, We have a ton of those Wolf spiders this year. Have never had this many before.

Those are the Japanese beetles. They look like the lady bugs---almost!!! We have had them for the past 4-5 years. They are beyond terrible. Have only a few this year, thank goodness. Don't know if the farmers sprayed or if it is because of the strange dry, cool weather we had this summer.

Generally they start invading the house in the fall. We finally learned to keep the vacuum cleaner sitting in the middle of the family room with the attachments hooked up. Every so often we would vaccum literally a hundred off the walls, ceilings, curtains, etc. They stink and they bite. Also can stain if they get smashed ---usually on a nice curtain while trying to kill the suckers. The vaccum works the best.

I did read about another method that works well. Boil up some hot water in a kettle and add some dish detergent to the water. The detergent has a oily base---pour the hot water on the bugs around the foundation of the house. This sounds like mass murder--and it is. However, the darn things breed faster than you can kill them off. The hot water does noticeably slow them down. Seems like they hide in the house and come out in the spring and then leave the house when the weather is better. Irish

[Bucky]

I have noticed the last few days the bug activity has picked up again.  Not sure if it is because we have warmed up into the 70's the last two days or because they are harvesting crops again.  OR . . it could be a combination of both!!   

Even as I type this there are several zipping around the light in the dining room.  I always make sure I cover my ice tea - I really don't want to swallow one of these pesky things!!   

I'll have to get the vacuum out to get all the ones in the corners of the room.  Want to wait a little longer before I do as I just put a new vacuum bag in and once I get them sucked up, want to throw the bag away.

Bucky