bugged

faithgoeson · #1 01/30/07, 06:29 PM

I need some humane tips to get rid of lady bugs in my house. They are driving us all insane. We've used more cans of caulking than I can count. I've sealed everything I can think of to seal. These little critters are still everywhere! I set off bug bombs, and they lived anyway. Do we just give up and let them take over? Tips greatly appreciated.

Bernadette · #2 01/30/07, 06:41 PM

We use a small vacuum cleaner and suck them up from around the lights in the evening.

e.alleg · #3 01/30/07, 07:07 PM

they are harmless and don't sting or bite so I wouldn't worry about them. We have them too. The cluster flies are a pain in the A@@ I vacuum those up.

botebum · #4 01/30/07, 07:17 PM

Catch one, put it on your nose, make a wish to make all the others go away, curl your lower lip up and BLOW! Jeez! Every six year old knows that!

Doug

Little Quacker in OR · #5 01/30/07, 07:30 PM

well, like dealing with anything I'd want to know what species this is.

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ent...rees/ef416.htm

http://wood.osu.edu/hort/Hortnr.html

Then I 'd make a decision on what to do about it.

Good luck and I hope these websites help. LQ

BaronsMom · #6 01/30/07, 07:57 PM

Hint: Ladybugs and other "bugs" stink when they get crushed up in a vaccum, but since vaccuming is a great way to get rid of them in the house what do you do?

Take a knee-high stocking and put it on the end of your vacuum hose attachment. You can hold the stocking in place with your hand, but since you need to "reach", use a couple of good strong rubber bands.

Turn the vacuum on - suck away - and the ladybugs are caught in the panty hose - NOT crushed in your vacuum.

Oh and bug bombs aren't worth it. The ladybugs are overwintering in walls and voids, so the bombs won't get to them - waste of money. I've got a couple of really old windows I need replaced and that's where I get the congregations of ladybugs - AND cluster flies.

Here's where the info is about sucking up ladybugs using the pantyhose - http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resour...dyBeetle.shtml Also talks about the timing of treatments...might be helpful.

faithgoeson · #7 02/01/07, 12:12 PM

lol Thanks

faithgoeson · #8 02/01/07, 12:19 PM

Well, we are on day one of vaccumming every crack and crevice of our home. Fun, fun. I've never seen so many lady bugs in my life. We'll see how well this works. I'll probably wear out my machine. Does anyone know what kind of beetle looks like a lady bug, but has pinchers on it's behind?? They are some creepy looking bugs we have mixed in w/ the regular lady bugs.

Trixie · #9 02/01/07, 12:24 PM

I think I have read this invasion - which is new to me - is not really ladybugs - but Asian beetles.

They do stink when crushed and they do bite a little. I found that out just last night. It isn't bad - but I felt it. I would say don't vacuum them into your vacuum cleaner - the hose idea sounds great. I vacuumed up a roach one time in my Kirby - no inner bag - vacuum. Big mistake.

Speaking of roaches and beetles. We had roaches in our big old house. It isn't the little kitchen type roaches - but the big man eaters. This old house has several walls - lots of fixing over the years and between those walls is old wallpaper. The roaches love glue. I found that out when they ate the covers of some books I had stored.

We have tried everything to get rid of those things - and I mean everything short of burning down the house.

We were away for 9 months, when we returned, we found no roaches, but hundreds of these ladybug-like beetles. I just wonder if there is some connection. The roaches still haven't come back. Now the invasions of the beetles haven't been nearly as big as they were, but they still come in.

SeptemberWolf · #10 02/01/07, 12:35 PM

Those are Asian beetles; we have them here, too, in NE Minnesota. They overwinter in every little nook, cranny, and crevice. The smell is annoying to say the least! But the fastest way to deal with them is to vacuum them up and dump 'em out.

I don't know if they're an invasion or an import that got out of hand. I've found them perched on the lips of water bottles, getting a drink; dozing on Venetian blinds; stuck behind the plastic insulation on the windows; clustered inside door frames where they get squashed; floating on top of the fish tank ... gak. Ick.

arabian knight · #11 02/01/07, 12:44 PM

Yes these Asian beetles LOOK like lady bugs and they DO Bite~! And they do stink if smashed. I use some spray that is USDA Approved for milk houses and KILL those little Buggers, that BITE me in bed and night~!!!

Marilyn · #12 02/01/07, 08:13 PM

A contributor on this forum said that he prevented the problem by soaking cotton balls in camphorated oil and placing them in the corners of all of his doors and windows. I wanted to try it last fall, but was unable to locate any camphorated oil. Since then, he has let me know that it was available in Walmart. I'm anxious to try it next year as they are such a pain in the backside.

uncle Will in In. · #13 02/02/07, 04:29 AM

Fight them however you please but the important thing to remember is when one happens to get in your mouth, either swallow, or spit, but never ever chew!!!

faithgoeson · #14 02/02/07, 09:17 AM

Fight them however you please but the important thing to remember is when one happens to get in your mouth, either swallow, or spit, but never ever chew!!!

lol My little girls said thanks for that tip.

faithgoeson · #15 02/02/07, 09:18 AM

What section of the store would camphorated oil be in??? Is it an herb, a cleaner, a medicine???? Young and clueless here I guess.....

Trixie · #16 02/02/07, 09:53 AM

For camphorated oil, I would go to a phamacy, a larger one and just ask. They probably have it.

GoatsRus · #17 02/02/07, 10:41 AM

there is a spray that the co-op sells. I believe it's used for dairy cattle. It comes in a white can and has a name like PYR-80 or something like that. It's the only thing that will kill the asian beetles. It says it's safe for indoor use. I sprayed around the windows where they were hiding and it got rid of them. You have to spray every year. I'm not at home, so I can't get the actual name for you right now.

mandyh · #18 02/02/07, 10:45 AM

Get some indoor/outdoor bug spray and spray the attic. we still get a few in the house, but spraying the attic did the trick. Also our ceilings are wainscoting, so I took clear caulk and caulked every crack in the ceiling. That took care of the bee's in January too.

MoonShine · #19 02/03/07, 02:57 PM

Yeah,they bite,they stink,and they swarm! I hate those things,luckily we're not dealing with them right now. Right now,it's gnats that are invading here.
I've vacuumed up the lady bugs,but that smell in the vacuum lingers on forever. I'm not sure what's worse...dealing with them or having that smell everytime you use the vacuum.

BaronsMom · #20 02/03/07, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonShine

Yeah,they bite,they stink,and they swarm! I hate those things,luckily we're not dealing with them right now. Right now,it's gnats that are invading here.
I've vacuumed up the lady bugs,but that smell in the vacuum lingers on forever. I'm not sure what's worse...dealing with them or having that smell everytime you use the vacuum.

Try the tip I posted above - works every time for me. (pantyhouse, rubberband, vaccum)