Lady Asian beetles look like ladybugs but are an invasive beetle that end up indoors in the winter. Lady Asian beetles range in color from tan, yellow, to orangeish red and can be distinguished by a dark “M” or “W”-shaped marking on the whitish area behind the head. Lady Asian beetles emit an acidic odor, can bite or pinch, and can stain surfaces with their yellowish secretions when disturbed. They will eat other insects including ladybugs.
How to Get Rid of Lady Asian Beetles
The best way to get rid of lady Asian beetles is to vacuum them up. Place fabric between the hose and dust container if planning on releasing back outdoors. Lady Asian beetles can be stored in a refrigerator to have them go dormant until they’re needed for garden pest control in the Summer.
Peppermint, thyme, and rosemary oils can be sprayed as a repellent.
Vinegar can be sprayed as a light pesticide.
Sources
Alternative pesticides. (n.d.). Sustainability. Retrieved December 29, 2022, from https://www.slc.gov/sustainability/pesticidefree-2/alternative-pesticides/
Asian lady beetle infestation of structures. (n.d.). Entomology. Retrieved December 29, 2022, from https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef416
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs. (n.d.). Biopesticides fact sheet for acetic acid.
