Ladybugs In Your House?
Seeing ladybugs in your house is quite common, especially during the fall and winter months. Ladybugs, particularly the invasive Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis), tend to seek shelter indoors when temperatures drop. Here’s why and when you might see them:
Why Do I Have Ladybugs In My House?
- Seasonal Migration – Ladybugs are more likely to enter homes in fall as they seek warmth for overwintering.
- Entry Points – They slip through cracks, vents, windows, and doors.
- Attracted to Light-Colored Structures – Homes with white or light-colored exteriors tend to attract them more.
- Warmth and Sunlight – South- and west-facing windows or walls are common areas where they congregate.
- Previous Infestations – If ladybugs have overwintered in your home before, they might return due to pheromone trails left behind.
How Common is It?
- Mild to Moderate Presence – In many areas, it’s common to see a few ladybugs indoors during cooler months.
- Large Infestations – Some homes, especially in rural or wooded areas, may see hundreds to thousands clustering in attics, windows, or ceilings.
- Less Common in Summer – They’re more active outdoors during warm months, feeding on aphids in gardens.
Lady bugs might not seem like a big deal. After all, they are tiny, harmless and almost cute bugs. That doesn’t mean you want a swarm of them living in your home. With Miche Pest Control, you can ensure that ladybugs are occasional garden guests rather than permanent housemates. Our top-of-the-line pest control services are here to help you live comfortably without being overrun with bugs - even cute ones!
The Life Cycle Of The Lady Bug
Like many other insects, the ladybug life cycle begins with eggs. These eggs are bright yellow and usually laid on the undersides of leaves. This keeps the eggs hidden from predators. A female ladybug can lay as many as one thousand eggs in her lifetime.
After a week or two, ladybug eggs hatch into larvae, which are black with yellow spots. These larvae eat a lot, primarily insects and insect eggs, before spinning themselves into pupas about a month later.
A ladybug pupa is orange with black spots. Like their eggs, they attach to the underside of a leaf. This stage of development is very similar to a caterpillar’s, with their larvae transforming into adult ladybugs for one to two weeks.
When adult ladybugs hatch, they’re grayish before developing the vibrant patterns they are known for. Ladybugs are classically red with black spots, but they can be a variety of colors. While most think of classic red and black, yellow and orange ladybugs are also commonly seen.
Ladybugs Can Be More Of A Problem Than You Think
Although ladybugs are typically beneficial insects to have in your garden, they can cause issues, too. One of ladybugs’ favorite foods is an aphid, a seriously harmful garden pest. That’s why many gardeners prefer to have ladybugs around. Be careful, though. A few types of ladybugs are agricultural pests and will destroy your plants.
Like people, ladybugs also often like to spend the winter indoors. During colder months, they’ll head inside where it’s warm to wait out the winter. They don’t need much—ladybugs can survive a few months without food. They’ll often cluster in confined spaces, like inside walls, to wait out the winter cold.
So while it is true that ladybugs can be good to have in the garden, in your home, they are a lot less valuable.
Why Ladybugs Are Attracted To Your Home
Ladybugs enter homes looking for warm shelter. They’ll swarm inside during the early Autumn when it’s getting cold, but it’s still warm enough for them to fly. During this time, they are often looking for food. If you have a thriving home garden, ladybugs will come in search of insects to eat. Then, when cold weather hits, they’ll see your house as a great place to wait for the warmer season to arrive.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of A Ladybug Infestation
You can prevent many infestations, including ladybugs, by ensuring your walls are free of cracks and holes. Ladybugs are tiny. They don’t need a big space to come inside. Caulking over gaps in your walls and keeping doors and windows shut can prevent ladybugs from getting inside.
If an infestation isn’t too big, you can use a vacuum to eliminate ladybugs. This tactic only works when there are only a few ladybugs, though. You’ll likely want help from a professional pest control company for an extensive infestation.
Miche Pest Control offers ladybug infestation treatments for homes. Our methods are EPA-approved so that you and your family can stay safe. If you need pest control, call Miche Pest Control today to schedule treatment!