Ladybugs are commonly thought to symbolize good fortune and serve as beneficial garden helpers. But though they excel in keeping bugs like aphids at bay in outdoor gardens, they can quickly overstate their welcome when they breach the threshold of your home. If you have spotted clusters of the wee beasties inside, you might well be wondering how to handle them and what to do, if anything, to get rid of them in a nonlethal manner.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This guide will offer some humane and effective methods for getting rid of ladybugs in your home and preventing a new infestation on the horizon. From figuring out why they’re invading your space to trying easy, long-term fixes, you’ll discover every trick you need to protect your home and the helpful bugs.
Understanding Ladybugs
Before you address the problem, it’s worth knowing why ladybugs are in your home and what their presence might signify.
Why Are Ladybugs Attracted to Your Home?
Ladybugs like to take shelter indoors when the weather gets cool in the fall and winter. They’re not looking to make trouble, they just need a warm, safe place to hibernate. They find homes with plenty of light, heat, and multiple points of easy entry especially appealing.
Here are some particular reasons why ladybugs might find your home appealing:
- Color: Ladybugs are attracted to light-colored siding. It’s a prime target if your home has white or yellow walls.
- South-facing homes: Houses that receive big doses of sunshine have the heat ladybugs seek.
- Natural habitats: Homes near gardens, fields, or forests which are ladybug natural habitats are more prone to have ladybugs visit occasionally.
Understanding Their Behavior
You might see ladybugs swarming on your walls, windows and ceiling. This is because they release pheromones in order to communicate with each other and mark your home as a safe place. Although it can be alarming to see them clustering, don’t worry, ladybugs do not bite, spread disease, or cause any structural damage.
Gentle Removal Techniques
When ladybugs find their way indoors, it is important to remove them humanely. Ladybugs are not only good for the environment, but antagonizing them might affect their population, which will result in your garden pests running rampant.
Here are some effective and humane ways to try:
1. Sweeping Them Out
We like to use a soft broom to sweep them into a dustpan. And what do you do with them?CloseOperation specimens outside in the plants or shrubs for a place to hide.
2. Vacuum with a Stocking
If the thought of sweeping seems like a drag, pick up your vacuum cleaner instead. Insert a knee-high stocking into the vacuum hose for ladybugs to gather in rather than suck into the vacuum bag. At beach, tie stocking with rubber band, suck up ladybugs, release outside.
3. Essential Oil Sprays
Some essential oils like citronella, clove or peppermint can deter ladybugs without injuring them. Combine a couple drops of essential oil and water in a spray bottle and lightly spritz the area that ladybugs are clustering on. The odor will drive them out on their own.
4. Light Trap Method
At night, Position a light, such as a lamp, in a dark room in those areas where the ladybugs have congregated. Place a bowl of water with some soap added to it under the light. As the light lures the ladybugs, the soapy water keeps them from flying back out when they land. If you’re not trying to kill the bugs and simply want to round them up and shoo them outside (to enjoy the rest of their one day on this planet)… Collect them with the light and take them to the front door.
Prevention Tips
After you’ve gotten the ladybugs out of your home, it’s important to deter future incursions. Here are a few measures you can take:
1. Seal Entry Points
Check windows, doors and walls for cracks or voids. Seal these gaps with weather stripping or caulk so ladybugs can’t wiggle in. Give special attention to sites near vents, pipes and utility lines.
2. Install Screens
Purchasing and placing mesh screens on your windows, doors, and vents is a fantastic way to keep ladybugs (and other bugs) out of your house. Ensure that your screens don’t have any holes or rips.
3. Use Natural Repellents
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth outside your home’s foundation or on entry points. This organic powder is safe for people and pets and can fend off ladybugs and other bugs.
4. Keep Plants in Check
6 Trimming hedges and bushes near your house can provide an ianste for ladybugs to make it into your walls and windows. You’ll also want to remove firewood or trash piles from along the foundation of your home.
Long-Term Solutions
For year-round ladybug reduction, incorporate the following more long-term suggestions:
Planting Natural Predators
Some birds — such as wrens and sparrows — drink ladybugs up like candy. Entice these beneficial predators to stop in your yard by including bird feeders or native shrubs and trees.
Maintain a Clean Environment
Ladybugs like to be in snug, quiet places. Dust and vacuum frequently in your house, especially in windowsills, corners, and storage areas, to rid them of hiding spaces.
Consider Seasonal Habits
During autumn and early winter, when ladybugs are most likely to enter homes, double down on protecting your property. Reapply fresh sprays of essential oils, reinspect screens and seal up any new gaps or cracks as you find them.
Keeping Your Home and Ladybugs Safe
By learning about ladybugs’ habits and behavior, you can keep them out of your home without hurting them. And from natural sweeping solutions and essential oils to sealing up entry points and planting natural repellents, you’re in good shape knowing both your space and ladybugs stay protected.
And don’t forget, these little guys are key to a healthy environment. Being hospitable is for the benefit of gardens and the natural world.
Which of these techniques have you tried? Tell us about your experience and offer some tips in the comments!
