Lady bugs (lady beetles) and stink bugs fall into the category of “occasional invaders” meaning they aren’t really bothersome until they infest your home. Seeing a few of these around your home isn’t a big deal until it becomes an infestation. But first…

What’s the difference between a lady bug and a lady beetle?

Lady Beetles

Around North Mississippi and Tennessee, we are likely seeing Asian Lady Beetles. These Lady beetles are slightly different from what most of us refer to as “ladybugs”. 

Asian Lady Beetles often appear when the weather cools. They congregate on the side of a house by the hundreds or thousands. If Lady beetles can find an entry point into your home, they will make their way inside. 

Lady Bugs

Lady bugs are generally considered to be helpful insects. When ladybugs or lady beetles are found on a crape myrtle, they typically have laid hundreds of eggs right in middle of the aphids. As soon as the eggs hatch, they begin feasting on the aphids. Ladybugs can rescue a crape myrtle and even a crop from aphids when the timing is right! However…

In order to protect themselves from predators, ladybugs secrete a fluid from the joints in their legs. This secretion is unappealing to predators and smells really bad to humans. 

In an infestation of lady bugs, many homeowners experience staining on walls from the secreted fluid. Some people are even allergic to the dust from their crumbling shells.

Stink Bugs

While stink bugs have never depicted as “cute” like lady bugs, they are also not much of a problem until an infestation occurs. Much like the lady beetles, they produce a foul odor and are best swept up and safely thrown away.

What defines a pest infestation?

 A sudden increase in destructiveness or population numbers of a pest species in a given area.

When their numbers and impact are currently or potentially at intolerable levels.

Avoiding infestation:

Now is the time to check out what is happening outside your home.

Repair cracks around windows and doors

Repair torn window or door screens

Remove piles of branches and leaves in your lawn

Eliminate areas where water collects

Inside your home:

Check under sinks for leaking pipes and repair

If you discover a building infestation, vacuum up lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs and throw them away. If you are beyond that solution,  Lawn and Pest can help.

In addition to “occasional invaders” we are also here to protect your home from termites, roaches, ants and more. Our licensed pest technicians will thoroughly spray inside and outside of your home on a regular schedule to ensure this problem is taken care of now and later. 

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In the grand scope of things, occasional invaders are not a big issue in the world of pest control. A few ladybugs, a couple of stink bugs, and even a silverfish or two don’t run most of us out of the house. Now a spider might cause you to stand on a chair, and just one cricket can deprive you of several night’s sleep. 

Occasional invaders typically don’t become a problem until they become an infestation. Even a harmless ladybug becomes not so cute anymore when they have covered your walls with their “mark”. Is there anything positive to associate with the word “infestation”?

What are they looking for?

Occasional invaders, like most pests,  are typically looking for food, water, or warmth. The best places to find them are under sinks, cupboards, crawl spaces, basements, showers, and tubs.

What are some common occasional invaders?

Centipedes (usually found in shower drains)

Earwigs (usually found in moist areas)

Pill Bugs (aka Roly Polies or Doodle Bugs)

Crickets

Beetles

Silverfish (attracted to paper like wallpaper, books, and envelopes)

Ladybugs 

Spiders 

Cluster flies

Stinkbugs

If they aren’t really harmful, then what’s the problem?

You won’t get carried off into the night by a swarm of ladybugs, however…there are some occasional invaders with some pretty yucky characteristics. Again, a few aren’t a problem. It’s all about an infestation. Here is a list of reasons to avoid an infestation of occasional invaders.

Some secrete foul odors 

Some may cause damage and/or staining to your indoor fabrics

They can damage your indoor plants

They may bite or pinch you or your pets

When they die, their bodies can attract other pests

The dead bodies, shed skins and droppings can cause some people to have allergic and/or asthma issues

Occasional invaders

Occasional invaders typically don’t become a problem until they become an infestation.

Where are they the rest of the year?

Occasional invaders aren’t mysterious pests that suddenly appear in the winter, they are active year round. Most of the time they are outdoors and we don’t notice them until they start getting inside our homes for the winter. 

Pest control is a partnership.

We will say it again. Keeping all pests OUT of your home is most of the war. Pay attention to cracks around windows and doors, tears in screens, piles of leaves, or branches around your home. Repair any possible entryway for pests so they can’t get in your home. Eliminate areas where water can collect. Check under your sinks for leaking pipes and repair. 

When you partner with Lawn and Pest Solutions, we will help you wage war against the “occasional invaders”. Our services will also protect your home from termites, roaches, ants, and more. Our licensed pest technicians will thoroughly spray inside and outside of your home on a regular schedule to keep your home pest-free year-round. Contact us here to learn more about our pest 360 programs or mosquito yard treatment.

Did you know rodents are the largest group of mammals in the world? In Mississippi, we have 22 kinds of rodents including mice, rats, voles, and squirrels. Other than being a food source to other animals and the aeration they provide your lawn while burrowing underground, they don’t have many positive attributes.

The “bad” list

Rodents:

Gnaw on electrical wires inside and outside of your home. 

Chew on the wood and insulation in your walls and attics. 

Carry diseases and parasites that are harmful to humans and pets.

Actively reproduce, with several litters a year! 

Speaking of their reproductive life…

Mice are especially “active” and can start having babies at just a few months old. In their short lifespan of only 8 months to a year, one female can have 8 litters, or 50-60 baby mice. They are just looking for food and a warm place to sleep and then they can set up house!

Keep mice and rodents out of your house!

Most of the problem with an infestation of any pest can be solved by just keeping them out in the first place. Here are some things you can do to prevent mice and rodents from entering:

Caulk gaps around doors and windows of your home.

Remove branches, limbs or vines that are leaning on your home.

Close gaps around pipes, vents and cables, a mouse can squeeze through a dime sized opening.

Move outside garbage cans further away from your house.

Remove sticks, leaves, debris from lawn.

Don’t allow grass to grow too high, this along with debris create hiding places for rodents.

Move piles of firewood at least one foot off the ground and away from the exterior of your home.

Check vents, window/door screens and weather stripping around all openings.

If you have a fireplace, install a chimney cap to keep rodents from climbing in.

A warm home and a nice meal, that’s all.

Rodents are especially attracted to the smell of food. You can help deter rodents and mice from moving in by doing the following:

Don’t leave pet food sitting out at night. (Roaches love pet food, too!)

Keep pet food in an air tight container when stored.

Store leftover food immediately.

Clear dirty dishes from the sink before you go to bed. 

Remove garbage from inside your home BEFORE it gets full or worse, overflowing.

Declutter storage areas and place storage bins off of the floor.

If you are providing access to the inside of your home AND leaving food out for pests, how can you blame them for moving in with you? Our licensed pest technicians know exactly what to do when dealing with mice and rodents. Our Pest360 Program can help you before an infestation.

Once mice and rodents are in, the infestation can become a messy one. It’s best to stop this problem before it happens. Contact us and we will be in touch with you ASAP. We service the Memphis, TN and North Mississippi areas with trained and trustworthy employees. 

Lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs fall into the category of “occasional invaders. Meaning they aren’t really bothersome until they infest your home. Having one or two of any of these pests isn’t really an issue, until it becomes an infestation.

It’s all about the numbers.

With many of the pests and issues that involve home pest control, it’s all about the numbers. “infestation”. With any infestation of pests, it is very important that you keep these pests out of your home. It’s easy to avoid stink bugs and lady beetles when they are gathered on your porch. When an infestation makes its’ way into your home, it’s time to get serious.

Lady bugs or lady beetles, what’s the difference?

Around our North Mississippi and Tennessee area, we are most likely seeing Asian Lady Beetles. These Lady beetles are slightly different from what most of us refer to as “ladybugs”.  The Asian Lady Beetles often appear when the weather cools.  The Lady beetles will congregate on the side of a house by the hundreds or thousands.  If Lady beetles can find an entry point into your home, they will make their way inside. 

Aren’t Lady bugs the “good” bugs?

Lady bugs are generally considered to be helpful insects. While there are many species of lady bugs or lady beetles, most of them are useful because they prey on aphids. Aphids are true pests that suck the life right out of our plants, trees, crops. 

When ladybugs or lady beetles are found on a crape myrtle, they typically have laid hundreds of eggs right in middle of the aphids. As soon as the eggs hatch,  Lady bugs begin feasting on the aphids. Ladybugs can rescue a crape myrtle and even a crop from aphids when the timing is right!

But on the other hand…

As cute as ladybugs are depicted in art, children’s books they do have a few unappealing characteristics. In order to protect themselves from predators, ladybugs secrete a fluid from the joints in their legs. 

This secretion tastes really bad to a predator and smells really bad to humans. In an infestation, many homeowners experience staining on walls from the secreted fluid. Some people are even allergic to the dust from crumbling shells of dead lady bugs.

While stink bugs are never depicted as “cute” they are also not much of a problem until an infestation occurs. Much like the lady beetles, they produce a foul odor and are best swept up and safely thrown away.

How to keep lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs out of your home:

Repair cracks around windows and doors

Repair torn window or door screens

Remove piles of branches and leaves in your lawn

Eliminate areas where water collects

Check under sinks for leaking pipes and repair

Now is the time to check out what is happening outside your home.

The first thing you can do as a homeowner is keep pest out. Immediate action would be to vacuum up lady bugs, lady beetles and stink bugs and throw them away. If you are beyond that solution,  Lawn and Pest can help.

In addition to “occasional invaders” we are also here to protect your home from termites, roaches, ants and more. Our licensed pest technicians will thoroughly spray inside and outside of your home on a regular schedule to ensure this problem is taken care of now and later. 

Our company offers the best bed bug exterminators treatment! We are ready to help you out. Contact us here to learn more about our #pest360 program. Our website has a user-friendly app to leave your messages with our office. Leave us a message and let us show you #thelpsdifference .