Lady bugs (lady beetles) and stink bugs fall into the category of “occasional invaders.” This means they aren’t really bothersome until they infest your home. 

Seeing a few lady bugs, lady beetles or stink bugs around your home isn’t a big deal until you have an infestation. 

Lady beetle or lady bug?

Lady Beetles

Around North Mississippi and Tennessee, you usually see 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

The good:

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! 

The bad:

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 been depicted as “cute” like lady bugs, they are also not much of a problem until an infestation occurs. 

Much like the lady beetles, stink bugs produce a foul odor and are best swept up and safely thrown away.

How do you define 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:

First, 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

Now see what’s happening 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. 

Ask Paul

Our website has a user-friendly app to leave your messages with our office. Leave us a message and let us show you #thelpsdifference .

What are “occasional invaders” in the pest control world?  Typically, they are pests that are not a big issue unless they infest a home.

 A few ladybugs, stink bugs,  or a silverfish or two don’t bother anyone. The same might not be said of one spider or one cricket that’s deprive you of a night’s sleep. 

Change the numbers from one or two to an infestation and things change quickly. Ladybugs aren’t so cute when they have covered your walls with their “mark”. 

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

What are some common occasional invaders?

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.

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

Is this a year round problem?

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.

Keeping pests OUT of your home is more than half the battle. Here are a few tips:

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 free of pests year-round. Contact us here to learn more about our Pest360 program.

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. 

Ask Paul

Our website has a user-friendly app to leave your messages with our office. Leave us a message and let us show you #thelpsdifference .