What Will Kill Ladybugs?
Ladybugs might be cute to some, but they can also take over your home, particularly in the late fall and early summer. They are particularly alarming if you happen to be allergic to their bites. A combination of preventive strategies can keep ladybugs outdoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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What Are Ladybugs?
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Ladybugs are a small beetle family that come in yellow, orange or red with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, head and antennae. More than 450 species of ladybugs are native to North America, and there are 5,000 species worldwide. Farmers use them to control aphids on their plants, but as we all know, they also have a tendency to creep beyond the garden and into our homes.
Indoor Prevention
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The ladybugs are likely getting into your residence through a crack in a window or a screen door that doesn't properly fit its frame. Inspect your screen doors, window screens and screened-in porches for cracks and holes. Replace torn screens and use weather stripping to reseal screen doors.
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Outdoor Prevention
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If sealing the doors and windows doesn't fix the issue, head outside and inspect your door frames, window frames and siding. These are another avenue insects use to get into your home. You can reseal your siding yourself or have a professional do it. You can also consider temporarily blocking your roof vents in colder weather.
Natural Repellent
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Many gardeners and landscapers recommending lining the perimeter of your home with food-grade diatomaceous earth to repel ladybugs. Diatomaceous earth is a natural pest deterrent that forms from fossilized algae. At the microscopic level, the algae are razor-sharp and will cut through the ladybug's exoskeleton, causing death by dehydration.
Chemical Repellent
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If all else fails--or if ladybugs have already infested your home--and you need to use a chemical repellent, any common household pest killer or insect fogger should do the trick. Make sure to cover furniture and valuables and ventilate the area before spraying. You can also vacuum the ladybugs, although this will merely stun them, not kill them. They may leave a stain on a light wall or carpet after removal, but the stain should be easily removable with soap and water.
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