When Do Ladybugs and Asian Lady Beetles Come Out?

The myth goes that ladybugs bring good luck, but you’re probably hoping to find them outdoors, not inside your home. 

Today we’ll discuss what time of year you’re most likely to find ladybugs around your home. We’ll also give you some tips for preventing a ladybug infestation in your home, as well as what to do if you’re already experiencing one.

Both ladybugs and Asian lady beetles are year-round pests. However, you’ll likely see an increase in them around your home during the winter months. Like other overwintering pests, they enter your home seeking warmth, shelter, and protection from the outdoor elements. 

They’re most common in the Midwest and Southern regions of the United States, but they can be found almost anywhere. Often, ladybugs are confused with the Asian lady beetle, a similar-looking beetle species. Here are a few ways to distinguish between the two:

If you’ve ever experienced a ladybug infestation in your house, you know that they can be a nuisance if found in volume. However, they’re typically a helpful pest to have around your yard. 

Ladybugs eat tiny pests that are harmful to plants and crops, including mites and other aphids. They’re even often referred to as “a farmer’s best friend” since they help control aphids. Even if they do find their way into your home, they’re not likely to cause damage or destruction—we’ll touch on that later. 

Asian lady beetles, on the other hand, can cause more grief to a homeowner. As we mentioned, Asian lady beetles are more aggressive than ladybugs. Plus, they are known to emit a foul smell when threatened that can leave behind unpleasant odors and even stains.

While ladybugs and Asian lady beetles are certainly pretty to look at, you probably don’t want to come across them in your living space. Unfortunately, these pests are biologically trained to remain in a pack and to avoid extreme weather situations by any means necessary—and that includes entering your home. 

Ladybugs and Asian lady beetles actually send out scouts who look for different areas to shelter and report back to the pack about suitable living areas. If your home becomes a safe place for them, you’ll likely end up with masses of either species looking for a new home. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent an infestation from happening in the first place:

Winterize your home

Plug up any holes, cracks, or openings around your home’s foundation or windows. 

Check screens around your home

If you have screen doors or windows around your house, regularly check the screens to ensure that there aren’t any holes or openings that pests can squeeze through.

Keep your yard trimmed

Ladybugs (and Asian lady beetles) are attracted to overgrown areas where they can find shelter and hide out, so keeping your yard and garden trimmed can help repel them.

Turn lights around your home off at night

Like many other insects, ladybugs are attracted to light. Consider turning off a few lights around your home at night, or putting them on a motion-sensor light.

If you’ve already found ladybugs or Asian lady beetles in your home, there’s no need to panic. Ladybugs only eat aphids and other small creatures, so they won’t cause any damage or destruction to your home. Asian lady beetles are cause for more concern, but they can still be addressed before they cause any harm to your house. That being said, if you want them gone, vacuuming them up and dumping them back outside is the best quick removal method for a few ladybugs. After they’re gone, make sure to wipe down any spaces around where they were found to remove their scent.

While a few pests here and there aren’t a big deal, a ladybug or Asian lady beetle infestation can get out of control quickly due to their social nature. If you’re dealing with a larger infestation, contacting a pest control professional is the way to go.