With fall quickly approaching, it’s time to talk about the pests that it brings with it. While rodents and spiders are some of the most well-known fall pests, Asian Lady Beetles are also common garden and household pests. One of the most important questions to ask when dealing with pests is, “What do they eat?”
The Diet of Asian Lady Beetles
Similar to the ladybug, which they are often mistaken for, Asian Lady Beetles primarily eat aphids. Asian Lady Beetles don’t present much of a problem when eating aphids in the garden. However, when these beetles run out of aphids, they become a problem. Once they run out of aphids, Asian Lady Beetles turn to fruit for their sustenance. This can present a frustrating issue for keeping your garden.
Asian Lady Beetles in Your Home
As the cooler fall weather encroaches, many homeowners will begin finding Asian Lady Beetles indoors, raising the question, “How can I identify Asian Lady Beetles?” Asian lady beetles appear similar to ladybugs. They are approximately the same size, are red and spotted, and have black and white heads. Ladybugs and Asian lady beetles also have rounded bodies. However, Asian lady beetles have slightly longer, more oval-shaped bodies than ladybugs. Ladybugs are also always red in color, while Asian lady beetles vary from orange to red.
The next way to tell the difference between Asian lady beetles and ladybugs is based on the head. According to DavesGarden.com, “The easiest way to tell them apart is the head. Ladybugs have mostly black heads with small white markings that sometimes resemble cheeks. These are found only on the sides of their heads. Most Asian lady beetles have a small, dark marking shaped like an M or W on the whitish area behind the head. This marking varies in size and shape but is always present.”
Do Asian Lady Beetles Bite?
Asian Lady Beetles do not have stingers and are not well-suited for biting. However, they are capable of biting and can cause an irritating bump if they do so. While Asian Lady Beetles do bite by scraping at your skin, ladybugs are harmless. If you have something on your skin that looks like a ladybug, but you feel a sting, you’re certainly dealing with an Asian lady beetle.
Get Help with Asian Lady Beetles from Bug-A-Way
If you’ve found Asian lady beetles infesting your property, you should act quickly to save your native ladybug population and your home from being invaded. Bug-A-Way Pest control is four-state’s number one exterminator. At Bug-A-Way, we will quickly resolve your Asian lady beetle infestation.