Asian Lady Beetle Control: How To Get Rid of Asian Lady Beetles

This page is a general Asian lady beetle control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of Asian lady beetles. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control over Asian lady beetles.

Have you been noticing what appears to be ladybugs gathered around your property or finding their way into your home? This may be an invasion of Asian lady beetles, a common overwintering pest.

When temperatures drop in the fall, adult Asian lady beetles eagerly target indoor dwellings for their survival. You may find large groups around your doors and windows, on the side of buildings that get the majority of sun, or even inside on walls, ceiling corners, and attics.

Asian Lady Beetles can be an especially annoying problem because they release an unpleasant odor, similar to stink bugs, which can leave yellow stains. They are also known to bite, but it is more of a pinch or scrape when they come into contact with skin, which can be painful.

If you notice Asian lady beetles trespassing on your property, the following guide can help. Read on to learn more about this pest and how to get rid of it quickly using our expert advice and product recommendations.

Identification

Before proceeding with treatment, it's important that you properly identify the pest to be sure that they are indeed an Asian lady beetle. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods and products, which can be a costly waste of time. Asian lady beetles are often confused with ladybugs since they look very similar. However, there are some distinct differences to set them apart:

• Asian lady beetles measure 0.25 inches long as adults and are slightly larger than ladybugs.
• They have an oval shape similar to ladybugs but are less round.
• Both Asian lady beetles and ladybugs have spots on their bodies, but some Asian lady beetles do not have spots at all.
• While ladybugs are characteristically bright red with black dots on their bodies, Asian lady beetles can vary in multi-colors from yellowish to orange.
• Asian lady beetles can be most easily distinguished from ladybugs by the M or W-shaped mark on their mostly white or cream-colored head.
• When it comes to tendencies and habits, ladybugs are viewed as more beneficial insects in yards and gardens because they eat other smaller insects. At the same time, Asian lady beetles are more destructive, eating leaves and other ladybugs.
• Asian lady beetles are also very aggressive and will bite or scratch if they come into contact with your skin.

Inspection

Once you are certain you are dealing with Asian lady beetles, you need to perform an inspection. During this phase, you will locate the areas where Asian lady beetles gather and the entry points they might use to enter a structure.

Where To Inspect

When the temperatures drop, and it gets cooler, Asian lady beetles will begin to find ways indoors to find warmth and shelter. This is why they are called overwintering pests. Indoors, you may find clusters of these household pests in large numbers, going into the hundreds, around ceilings, attics, or other secluded areas of your home.

Outdoors may be grouped on the exterior walls of your home that receive sunlight. They will then make their way inside by finding a crack or crevice to gain access, such as window panes, door seals, window frames, or foundation cracks.

Search the perimeter of your home for entry points and damaged or missing window screens. Indoors, check behind appliances and in secluded areas like garages, storage areas, under plumbing, and laundry rooms.

What To Look For

You’re looking for clusters of Asian lady beetles gathered together. You may need to use a flashlight and check areas of the home you may not often go to to find them. You should also look for yellow stains and foul odors, a defensive mechanism of the Asian lady beetle when they feel threatened. You should also look for any openings, cracks, or crevices the Asian lady beetle may have used to gain access indoors.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Asian lady beetle entry points and activity, it is time to apply pesticides. Remember to read all product labels, follow the application instructions on these labels, and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe.

To get rid of ladybugs, we recommend a barrier and indoor crack and crevice treatment of Supreme IT Insecticide and indoor applications of Pyrid Aerosol and D-Fense Dust around points of entry and voids.

Step 1: Barrier and Crack and Crevice Treatment with Supreme IT

Supreme IT is labeled to treat more than 75 insect pests. It kills and repels insects, including Asian lady beetles. This product is perfect for repelling and killing any insect that might get close to your property. It also has residual control (or long-term effects) lasting up to 90 days.

To determine how much Supreme IT you will need, calculate the square footage of your treatment area. To find the square footage, measure the treatment area's length and width in feet, then multiply them together (length X width = square footage).

The rate for mixing Supreme IT is 1 ounce per gallon of water inside a pump sprayer. This application rate will cover 1,000 square feet.

Perform a perimeter barrier treatment around the exterior of your home by spraying 3 feet up and 3 feet out from the foundation of your structure. Apply this treatment all over the foundation while also targeting window frames, door frames, eaves, soffits, garage doors, rain gutters, electrical/plumbing penetrations, and any cracks and crevices you found during your inspection.

You can then move indoors to treat cracks and crevices and apply spot treatments where Asian lady beetles may be hiding, such as ceilings, along walls, and other areas where you have found them gathered.

Do not let people or pets enter areas treated until the treated area is completely dried.

Step 2: Outdoor Treatment with Flex 10-10

For Asian lady beetles found outdoors, we recommend applying Flex 10-10. Flex 10-10 is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide that can be used both indoors and outdoors. It is excellent as a space spray outdoors. Flex 10-10 is specially formulated for Automatic Misting Systems or other approved misting equipment.

Under normal conditions, dilute between 3.2 fl. oz. and 6.4 fl. oz. of Flex 10-10 per gallon, depending on the severity of the infestation.

Mist the Flex 10-10 solution in your yard, keeping it out of the treated area until the space has properly ventilated.

Prevention

After you have treated your home and yard, you will want to take preventative measures to ensure Asian lady beetles don't reinvade in the future. Here are some measures to ensure you don't have a future invasion.

• Start by sealing small entry points, cracks and crevices, slits, and openings found on the outside of your structure. Use caulking or pest control foam to seal and close off any cracks and crevices on your structure's outside. Fix or repair damaged screens or door seals.
• Trim back vegetation (including tree limbs that contact your roof) from your structure that insects might use to get close to your property.
• Reapply Supreme IT every 3 months throughout the year, especially during the fall (or a month in advance before winter), to repel and kill any Asian lady beetles that might return to your property.

Key Takeaways

What are Asian Lady Beetles?

• Asian lady beetles are a common overwintering pest that appears on exterior walls of structures or indoors in large clusters. They are aggressive and can bite if you come into close contact with them. They also release a foul odor that can stain walls and fabrics.

How To Get Rid of Overwintering Pests

• To treat Asian lady beetles, we recommend applying Supreme IT Insecticide as a barrier around your property and indoors around cracks and crevices where you may encounter clusters.
• Flex 10-10 can also be used as a space spray with an Automatic misting system to treat Asian lady beetles.

Preventing Asian Lady Beetle Reinfestation

• Sealing entry points, cracks, and crevices is half the battle. Remember also to fix and repair weather stripping and window and door seals.
• Apply Supreme IT throughout the year as a perimeter barrier around your structure, especially during the fall when the weather gets colder.