During late fall and early winter, as the weather becomes colder, ladybugs will start to congregate in leaf litter, mulch, or any other ground cover they can find. In some cases, as the weather gets colder, the ladybugs will leave their hiding places and converge on the sides of buildings and homes.

As the ladybugs crawl around the side of the house, they will find tiny cracks and crevices and start to make their way indoors and become a major nuisance to homeowners. What was once welcomed in the garden, is now a problem indoors, the most common home invader is the Asian lady bug.

Ladybug Larva

If you are noticing ladybugs along the outside of your home, and do not want an infestation indoors, you must take some precautions. Seal, caulk, and screen all available entrance areas: around windows, doors, exterior plumbing and conduit, weepholes, and other exterior cracks and crevices at least 1/16 inch in diameter.

If you already have a problem indoors, vacuuming is the best source of control. Many times, ladybugs have already infested the home and are hiding out in the attic or walls. When you turn on the heat, they start to move out of their hiding places. In these situations vacuuming is the best source of control.

Insecticides do very little to solve the problem. Residual sprays and dusting in cracks and crevices may lead to some reduction. But when sealing and vacuuming are possible, it is more effective (and less costly) than pesticides.

IPM Program Specialist and Entomologist, Molly Keck
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
mekeck@ag.tamu.edu
3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212
San Antonio, Texas 78230
210/467-6575

All photos by TAMU Entomology staff unless otherwise noted.