It's that time of the year! And now I've been transporting #AsianLadyBeetles from the upstairs (where kitty spends a lot of her time), to the downstairs where I grow plants because ALB's eat #Aphids! Now, of course, they could crowd out #Ladybugs if they get out of control, so I won't be saving every single one of them. But still...

Multicolored Asian lady beetles

Quick facts

- The multicolored Asian lady beetle has become a nuisance in Minnesota.
- They cluster around buildings in large numbers during fall in search of protected sites for the winter
- Control measures should only be used to prevent entry of Asian lady beetles indoors.
- Multicolored Asian lady beetle and other lady beetle species feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that can damage plants in agricultural crops, gardens and landscapes.
- These are beneficial insects to farmers and gardeners.

Asian lady beetle as a household pest

Multicolored Asian lady beetles can be a nuisance when they occur in large numbers inside homes.

- They do not infest wood, destroy fabrics, eat food or damage other property.
- These lady beetles cannot sting and do not carry disease.

Some concerns with multicolored Asian lady beetles are:

- Some can bite hard enough to break human skin, causing minor, short-lived discomfort. These bites happen when the beetles are searching for moisture or food.
- They can secrete a strong-smelling yellowish liquid from the joints of their legs. This liquid can stain light-colored surfaces.
- Exposure to dead lady beetles in buildings can cause allergic reactions in some people"

[Not mentioned: They can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested!]

Learn more:
https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/multicolored-asian-lady-beetles

#SolarPunkSunday #NaturalPestControl #LadyBeetles

Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orange_Ladybird_(Halyzia_sedecimguttata)_-_B%C3%A6rum,_Norway_2021-08-22.jpg

#LadyBeetle #Ladybug #Ladybird #Beetle #Coleoptera #ArtWithOpenSource #Darktable #CCBYSA #Insect #Insects #LadyBeetles #Ladybugs #Ladybirds #Beetles #Animal #Animals #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography

@meganL

I'm getting Asian beetles, but the answer I was given is that they are looking for warmer places to survive the winter.

Any #entymology beetle experts wanna weigh in?

US midwest, just before the (unusual for here) cold weather hit.

#Ladybugs
#LadyBeetles

Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) Pupa

#LadyBeetle #LadyBeetles #Ladybug #LadyBugs #LadyBird #LadyBirds #Coleoptera #Beetle #Beetles #Insect #Insects #Pupa #Pupae
#ArtWithOpenSource #Darktable #CreativeCommons #CCBYSA
#Nature #NaturePhotography #Photography
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asian_Lady_Beetle_(Harmonia_axyridis)_Pupa_-_Guelph,_Ontario_01.jpg