Somewhat new to North America, Asian lady beetles are native to Asia where they live in fields and trees. After being introduced to parts of the U.S. in the 1960’s, these beetles exploded in population in the 1990’s.

Similar to the popular lady beetle (lady bug), both are about ¼” and oval in size with black spots. Both eat other insects as long as they are small enough. Distinctive differences between the two are the Asian lady beetles have a white marking behind the head and when crushed they leave a yellowish secretion that stains and gives off an awful odor. Oh, and by the way, they bite unlike the lady beetle, although they are not poisonous.

They lay their oval yellow eggs on the underside of leaves. It takes approximately a month from the time the egg is laid for it to become an adult. Common habitat areas include agriculture and ornamental crops. Soybean, roses, corn, tobacco, and alfalfa to name a few.

During warmer weather these beetles spend their time outdoors but as the weather cools in the fall, they begin to seek protected shelter for the winter. At this time, they generally make their way indoors through cracks, open windows with damaged screens, or under doors with poor weatherstripping.

Asian lady beetles are beneficial to your garden. They eat other insects but to keep them out of your home, it’s better to start preventative measures ahead of time. Contact us today to get started. 214-321-2847