Gail Ruhl, Senior Plant Disease Diagnostician, Interim P&PDL Director
Fly away to ANY home but MINE!!! It is that time of year, early-mid October,
when the Asian lady beetles begin to congregate on light colored buildings
and those areas that are illuminated by the sun. Once several beetles
have settled on a suitable site, they release an air-borne, chemical,
signal which attracts even more beetles. During this congregating activity,
hundreds of thousands of beetles may appear around homes. The beetles
will move into tight cracks and crevices such as under siding or in wall
voids, or cluster tightly into the corners of attics or garages once the
outside temperatures fall. They will overwinter in these areas and then
in the spring, as the temperatures warm up, they will once again become
a nussiance as they try to get back outdoors!
To find out more about these insects, read the information in E-214, "Asian
Lady Beetles" (PDF 32K - requires Adobe Adobe Reader) .
Click on the image to enlarge.
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The pattern of spots and coloration may vary
from beetle to beetle |
Characteristic "M" marking
on the thorax above the wings |
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Information listed is valid only for the state of Indiana.