Should I call the pest control? Has anyone else had the same problem?
For the last few days our bedroom has been invaded by ladybugs. For the life of me I cannot imagine how they get in. The French doors to the terrace are always closed when we're not around and at night, but they manage to get in by the dozens. When we get up in the morning, they are everywhere. Basically I think they are cute and not dangerous but when they come as an armada, it gets kind of creepy.
My mother in law had that a few weeks back. I would not be worried. They must have made a nest somewhere in your bedroom. I would just open the window and let them out. That is what we did and in no time they stopped multiplying!
I heard from someone once that ladybugs bring good luck..so you in a way have won the jackpot
Believe me I looked everywhere but couldn't find a nest. It seems like they are coming IN, not trying to get out. But I will search the room again.
Good luck? Oooooooh, maybe that means baby-luck
You will probably find that they have been hibernating in the gaps around the opening windows. If these have been closed all winter you will not have seen them.
Now that the weather is improving they are becoming active. Is there a window that you have recently opened that has been closed over the winter?
They may be Harlequin Ladybirds which are invaders
Thanks a lot for the useful link. We have not opened window or French doors. I don't know if they are the invasive kind, they are all red with black dots but not uncommonly big.
I had this happen in a previous apartment. They fly in swarms and depending on the wind, and the whiteness of the outside walls (apparently!) they all just fly and land in virtually the same spot.
They would land on my little balcony and loads came in once when the door was open. If you squish them they make a yellow mess on the walls, so just knock them about and they'll fly off.
Mine all disappeared after three days, so you shouldn't have long to wait.
OK guys,
Quick Entomology 101 lesson:
Lady beetles are from the order 'Coleoptera' and they don't nest or hibernate.
It will be a trigger of warm weather that has triggered the dormancy of their pupae stage in the soil, or they have followed a flight of 'aphids'.
I would suggest checking outside in the surrounding trees and look for signs of "black mould" in the trees.
The "Black mould" will be a secondary fungus that grows from the 'sugar rich APHID poo' on the leaves.
look for these little critters in the trees where the aphids are:
(more below the pic..... sorry, I can't seem to make the photo shrink)
Yep, ugly as hell, but these are baby "Lady beetles" eating aphids.
I was hit by a similar swarm last year, but don't worry, they go away.
If anything, if you have any 'garden plants' on your balcony now, check them for aphids and go and collect these little critters to put in your own garden to control the aphids.
They are completely harmless, won't bite, no poison....... and yes, the beetles are cute.
If you have kids, take the time to show them where lady beetles come from and how they 'change' from the pupae to the adult.
No need for the pest man, they won't be around long enough to be an issue.
We've had them on and off in our bathroom for months now - extremely annoying. When I've left the window open to air the room and depending on the outside temperature, we'll have dozens of them on the inside of the window and on the ceiling. I just gather them up in a paper tissue and shake them outside again.
The Harlequin ones are quite difficult to distinguish from native ones. They are in so many varieties and mimic the native ones. What made me wonder about Harlequins was when you mentioned large numbers. This is more typical of the Harlequins. Identification guide
Fine if they are the native variety, but not quite true for Harlequins .
They do hibernate and can bite, though this is rare and usally mild.
Hopefully, these are the native variety.
Agreed,
but she did post " Ladybugs ".
I did have a similar invasion last year and they were just ordinary ladybeetles then.
Hopefully your guide you posted will offer more details on the situation.
Harlequin ladybirds have a tendency to aggregate in buildings in large numbers during autumn and winter
That seems to be them. They can't have come in from outside since everything was kept closed. It would also explain why there are so many of them. I wouldn't think twice about a couple here or there.
When you release the ladybirds outside your window, be sure to remind them that their houses are on fire and their children all gone.
That's the rules (or at least, they were the rules when I was at school... )
The original links that I posted related to the UK. I have found that there is a similar situation in Switzerland. This organisation may be interested in your findings. http://www.cabi-e.ch/harmonia/
It could be worth collecting a few in a sealed container for them to identify conclusively.
Thanks a lot for all this useful information! I had no idea. But IF they are invaders, then how about my luck? Does it mean I will have loads of bad luck
It could mean lots of foreign travel
I don't wish to scare you, but if I were you, I'd leave the country immediately.
Evil!!!!
Cold Blooded Killers!
When I was at school we read a story by a bloke called Franz Kafka. The story was about a guy called Gregor Samsa who got turned into one of these. So before putting them outside I'd ask if they're actually people who've been turned into ladybids against their will, and if so, try and work out if there is a way to turn them back.
I know that story too and thanks for reminding me. I'll check first But they are not big enough. If I remember correctly, Gregor Samsa was a huge beetle, and a disgusting one, no ladybug
They hibernate between the windows - in the seals and along nooks and crannies by skirting boards, etc. Now Spring is here, they've woken up- hurray. Take a piece of stiff paper and gently lift them onto it and release them so they can go out and eat all the other kritters like green fly, etc. They do a great job- vive le Printemps. We had the same in the UK btw.