How to get rid of Ladybugs

Ladybugs can be considered beneficial insects, and most gardeners do prefer having them around, as ladybugs thrive on aphids and other insects which can damage gardens. However, in large numbers, even the cute ladybugs can become an unwelcome pest. The problem appears when fall comes and adults try to find shelter until spring and start entering homes. If they gain entry, they can become a nuisance for you all winter. Ladybugs will not harm you like bed bugs could, but they do contribute to indoor allergies and they can prove to be very messy. Getting rid of these insects is not hard, but as with any other pest, make sure you take prevention measures at the same time, to avoid having to deal with such an issue again.

Avoid getting Ladybugs inside your home

As these insects are tree-dwelling ones, they will be attracted to houses made out of wood or containing a lot of wood in their surroundings. Wooded areas will have a large ladybug aggregation, so the first step in making sure they are not attracted to your property, is to avoid offering them the food or shelter they need. With fall coming, ladybugs will try to enter your home through every crack or crevice they find. The best way to avoid this is by sealing them up in time, keeping your doors and windows closed or using doors and window screens. It is very important to manage the infestation while it is still outside, as it will be easier to get rid of them than from the inside of your house.
Ladybugs will normally cluster on the outside walls of your house and try to find ways of getting in. you can prevent them from getting in by applying weather stripping, to seal gaps at the bottom of your doors, block your vents for a period of time, and caulk the cracks and crevices you find. Check your home to make sure that any tiny hole connecting the outside to the inside of your house is taken care of, whether it is a crack around a window, the door or a utility pipe. You can also plant several types of plants outside your windows, just to make sure the ladybugs will be kept at away. They usually do not like flowers such as mums, or plants such as mint or bay.

Getting rid of Ladybugs inside your home

If the insects have managed to enter your home, do not panic. While they might be numerous, as they tend to stick together, they will not harm you or your home. Ladybugs do not bite, they do not lay eggs while sheltering from the cold, and they do not harm the items you have inside your home. Once spring comes and they sense a warmer weather, they will try to find their way out, and this is when you normally discover the degree of the infestation.
To be able to remove the ladybugs from inside your home, the most effective method to use is to vacuum them. You will be able to gather them in large numbers and easily remove them from your home. Keep in mind to trap them in your vacuum and then release them outside. This method is more efficient than picking them individually by hand, as not only is it faster, but also, you will avoid having the ladybugs feel threatened. When they do feel this, they normally secrete a yellow substance that can stain skin, clothes and other surfaces, and also acts as a warning for other ladybugs.

For the ladybugs that remained after you have vacuumed the house, you can set up different types of traps, in order to remove them. By wiping your furniture and areas where you have seen them congregate with citrus or citronella scents, you will avoid having other ladybugs come into your house. They do leave a scent of their own behind, attracting more of their kind, so you can break this cycle by using a citrus spray or oil based mixture. Camphor and menthol act the same way, so they can also be mixed with water and sprayed around areas where you suspect ladybugs might be hiding. These do not act as insecticides, so the pests will not get killed. However, their strong scent does become too unpleasant and the ladybugs will tend to move as far away as possible from those areas.
As methods based on scents that will also repel ladybugs, you can also keep bay leaves or cloves in small pouches, placed in areas where ladybugs roam. Any citrus based elements will annoy the ladybugs, so for a small infestation, you can also light citrus scented candles, or use ammonia to wipe surfaces where ladybugs like to stay.

Another natural way of getting rid of ladybugs inside your house is by trapping them with soapy water. By placing such a mixture in a clear bowl, the reflecting light will attract them, and the soapy water will suffocate them; once the bowl has enough victims, it can be emptied and refilled for another round.
Boric acid can also be used as a natural repellent inside your house. Sprinkle it in areas where you can see ladybug activity. By touching the boric acid, they will dehydrate and slowly, all those that came into contact with the substance, will die. You will just have to come and vacuum them away. The same effect can be accomplished by using Diatomaceous Earth. As the Borax mentioned above, this is also a natural pesticide, which mortally affects the insects. Place it in areas where you suspect ladybugs walk through and, as above, when they come in contact with it, their exoskeleton will be pierced and they will die of dehydration. These are also substances which you can place on a windowsill in order to prevent the ladybugs from entering through there.

Spraying concentrated insecticides for Ladybugs control:

Concentrated insecticides are the most common used products in fighting insect infestations. They provide the safety that any insect coming into contact with the treated surfaces dies shortly.

Sprayers used for Ladybugs control:

The equipment needed for a professional Pest Control Operator depends on the type of pest the treatment is made against, and if the treated surface is indoors or outdoors. Sprayers help in applying products meant to reach difficult places, as well as guaranteeing an economic control of the treatment application.

You can also use barrier pesticides, which are chemicals that usually sprayed on the path of the ladybugs or near entrances in the house. Once they come in contact with it, they will get the substance onto their body and die. Spray with the residual insecticides around eaves, attic vents, windows, doors, under-fascia lips, and any other possible points of entry. Also, useful are the dust or aerosol insecticides based on pyrethrums, which is also a contact killer. These can also be used to treat around windows, mouldings and light fixtures. Always use these chemical substances according to the instructions on their package.

Mist Blowers used for Ladybugs control:

Mist blowers are also useful for treatment application, as they use a very low volume application rate per unit area / space, that guarantees economic control of pests.

Dusting insecticides for Ladybugs control:

Dusting insecticides are ideal for areas where liquid insecticides can not be sprayed, such as cracks and electrical installations. Apply on dry surfaces, do not dissolve in water. It is very important to identify and treat areas with high potential of nests. Careful of air flows!

Remember that getting rid of these insects is not that hard, as they will leave on their own as spring comes. However, the best way to avoid any issues, is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. For more details and different types of preventing measures, you can visit our relevant article and find out more tips on how to ‘Prevent infestation with Ladybugs’.