Re: lady bug infestation!

Mark] O'Farrell (marko@chatham.ces.ncsu.edu)
Tue, 2 Apr 1996 09:11:01 -0500 (EST)

Karl,
>Fight that Ortho urge as long as you can, and the lady beetles will
eventually exit the same way they entered. In all probability the beetles
that you have are Harmonia axyridis, a non-native that was imported to
prey on pecan aphids in the south, due partly to their habit of working
in the upper stories - of trees, not houses.

In their native habitat (Mongolia, perhaps), they migrate to the sunny
mountainous caves to overwinter, much the same as our own convergent lady
beetle does out west. Due to a lack of granite mountainsides, they often
are attracted to large white houses and other structures here. As the
weather warms, they will migrate once again
to find food. This makes them of questionable value in the immediate
area of your house, but they are a beneficial insect and will fly off to
eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects elsewhere.

If you really can't stand having them inhabit your house, you might want
to try a variation of the method used by one of our local greenhouse
growers. He uses a small "dustbuster" type vacuum to capture them, puts
them in the fridge to finish overwintering, then releases them in the
greenhouse in the spring. You may want to transport them elsewhere, such
an alternative shelter in the woods, a shed, or some other temporary home.

Best Management Practice in this situation: procrastinate.

>Can some soul help Karl. I am not an entomologist, but would tell this
>person to value, prize, care for and multiply this little creatures in case
>they are beneficials. Thanks. Myron Shenk.
>
>Return-Path: <Karlmbar@voicenet.com>
>>Date: Thu, 23 Nov 1995 06:38:22 -0800
>>From: "Karl M. Barbatschi" <Karlmbar@voicenet.com>
>>To: Shenkm@BCC.ORST.EDU
>>Subject: lady bug infestation!
>>
>>Help! have hundreds of lady bugs in my attic. I live in Pa. I
>>think they are the Japanese variety. I hate to kill them all but, it is
>>my house and they are becomming a major pain in the @#%! Can you suggest
>>a method of attracting them to a container to release outside? Just
>>wondering. If not I'll have to employ Ortho to attempt to rid myself of
>>these bugs. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
>>
>>
>Myron Shenk
>Integrated Plant Protection Center
>Oregon State University
>Cordley Hall 2040
>Corvallis OR 97331-2915
>Tel: (541) 737-6274
>FAX: (541) 737-3080
>email: shenkm@bcc.orst.edu
>
>
>

-- 
Mark]  O'Farrell
E-Mail  : marko@chatham
Internet: marko@chatham.ces.ncsu.edu
Phone   : 919-542-8202