As far as all the bugs go, ladybugs have an outstanding reputation. Ladybugs are often considered a sign of good luck and can appear in various cartoons and children's books. These red and black spotted insects have numerous exceptional qualities, including preying on common Texas pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids that would otherwise end up destroying your plants and the entire garden.
Nevertheless, there is a wrong type of ladybug as well – the ones that can be aggressive and whose bite can be harmful to dogs. These bugs may enter your house and leave behind a bad-smelling secretion that can stain your furniture and walls yellow. These insects are known as Asian Lady Beetles.
Asian Lady Beetles were first introduced to North America in the year 1916 to help combat aphids. However, now they are a much bigger problem since they have overtaken the native species and our homes and gardens.
While Asian Lady Beetles also attack and eat pests that are harmful to our gardens, their disadvantages far outweigh their advantages. The battle between ladybugs and Asian beetle has been going on for a long time now. It can be difficult for you, as a homeowner, to properly distinguish between the two. Even though they look like each other, one will offer you help, whereas the other is just an unwanted pest that you need help of professional pest control in Propser, TX, to get rid of.
So, how can you properly tell these two different types of bugs are apart from one another? Most people tend to know what an average ladybug looks like. But, it can be difficult for an untrained eye to properly tell the difference between the harmful Asian lady beetle and the harmless ladybug. What you need to understand is that the disguise is not perfect! Only if you can tell the difference in sizes, will you get rid of the bad, and allow the excellent ladybug to flourish.
What Is The Difference Between A Ladybug And Asian Lady Beetle?
Even though both these insects belong to the lady beetle family, they carry a few apparent differences which can be noticed easily without much effort. These differences include:
Ladybugs
- All native ladybugs feed on aphids
- They do not bite and aren't aggressive
- They don't seek a warm shelter in winters
- Ladybugs have bright reddish-orange or red forewings
- These insects tend to have 13 or fewer spots on their forewings
Asian Lady Beetle
- Asian lady beetle feed on aphids and numerous other insects, which also includes native ladybugs
- They can be aggressive towards humans and can bite
- Asian lady beetle leaves a smelly yellow liquid which can affect people who have asthma or allergies
- These insects tend to invade homes during the winter, looking for shelter
- They often gather in groups on any brightly colored surfaces or windows
- Asian lady beetle has two white lines which meet behind their head to either form an M or a W.
- They come in many different colors, which can be anything from red-orange, yellow, or black.
- Come in various types of spot patterns.
Which One Is A Friend, And Which Is Foe, Ladybug Vs. Asian Lady Beetle?
Both these insects are predators that feed on aphids and can destroy flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Nevertheless, the native ladybug is the only insect that can prove to be beneficial to have around. They only eat soft body plant pests such as insect eggs or aphids laid on leaves. These native ladybugs are collected and sold to gardeners for natural pest control.
Asian lady beetle, on the other hand, tends to feed on aphids as well as the native ladybugs. It can also infest numerous fruits such as apples, grapes, and raspberries.
How To Attract The Correct Species Of A Ladybug To Your Farm/Garden?
If you wish to attract the native ladybug to your garden or farm, you need to stop raking the leaves on your property. Ladybugs prefer leaf litter even in winter, unlike the Asian lady beetle, which likes your home as a warm hideout.
You should also get rid of any Asian lady beetle as soon as you spot them. This will help you create a safe environment for the native ladybug to thrive and reproduce.
How Can You Take Care Of An Asian Beetle Infestation?
There is no quick and easy way to take care of an Asian beetle invasion. You can choose to get in touch with professional home pest control and commercial pest control experts at Green Pest Guys for professional guidance. In the meantime, you can use several creative ways to keep their population under control.
You can use a vacuum cleaner or a powerful water hose. If you notice a cluster of Asian beetles covered, you can spray them off using a garden hose before they increase in number or find a way to get inside your house.
If you notice that they are already inside your home, make sure that you don't squash them as they will leave a terrible smell behind. Instead, it would help if you used a vacuum cleaner to get rid of them without any foul odor.
Try to seal your home inside out. We understand that you can't seal your home completely, but you can fill any crevices and cracks you may notice since it will make it difficult for Asian lady beetles to get inside.
Clear away all vegetation. Ensure that your landscaping has not overgrown. Asian lady beetles love to dwell in overgrown landscapes during the summer season. If you have tree branches hanging over your home's roof, then it could increase the chance of an infestation during the fall season.
Get In Touch With Green Pest Guys Today!
Now that you can adequately tell the difference between the two if you notice many Asian lady beetles on your lawn, you need to give us a call immediately.
Our professionals can help you get rid of these pests without much effort. If you live in the Austin, Dallas, or North Houston areas and are looking for someone to help you with a pest infestation, you need to get in touch with Green Pest Guys ASAP.