What to do if Ladybugs Invade Your DC Home
Ladybugs (technically called Ladybird beetles) are often found indoors in the beginning of the fall in the DC metro region as they look for a warm place to spend the winter. Ladybugs are a beneficial outdoor insect known for helping gardeners battle damaging insects like aphids. But when they invade the indoors in massive numbers, their outdoor assistance is soon forgotten.
Why your home?
Ladybugs are attracted to older homes with presumably easier access than newer, freshly sealed homes. When the beetles enter, they will likely choose loose seals around doors and windows and cluster near the warm window panes. They don’t mean to go inside your house, it’s just so warm and cozy they get a little mixed up.
Please, Don’t Frighten the Ladybugs
When you see them, please don’t scare them. Ladybugs excrete yellow liquid that can stain light colored surfaces. It's not pee, but it's still pretty gross. To avoid this yellow yuckiness, vacuum any ladybug clusters up quickly and then empty the canister. Be sure you do so outside so you don’t just rerelease the bugs indoors.
Ladybug Prevention
There is not much you can do at home without the help of professionals to keep ladybugs out. But there are ways to help your home become less susceptible to insect invasions.
- If you see a crack in the seals around your doors/windows, fix it
- Invest in door weatherstripping to seal up that last bit of space under doors
- Plug up any holes contractors may have left installing plumbing or other cables
American Pest’s trained professionals are ready to inspect and let you know what the best course of action to take to keep pests out before they become a menace in your home.
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