Many of us put on cozy scarves and sip warm mugs of coffee as we head into the colder months. When we venture outside, we have warm clothes and can return to the heated interiors of our homes if we get too cold. But pests don't have these luxuries. They have to sneak into warm places if they want to survive cold Rock Island winters.
Problems Lady Beetles Cause
Lady beetles (more commonly known as ladybugs) are a species of overwintering insects. When the weather becomes too cold, lady beetles search for warm areas where they can become dormant until spring. However, when lady beetles invade, they can cause issues for Rock Island homeowners.
Lady beetles often wake from their dormancy on sunny winter days, long before spring arrives. They congregate around windows, fly around heads, and can become a major nuisance to deal with. Lady beetles are not known to be harmful to humans, but they can have a toxic effect on animals if consumed. While lady beetles are beneficial to the ecosystem by eating aphids off plants, they can become a problem when they invade a home. Lady beetles produce a foul-smelling liquid, which can stain furniture, wallpaper, and clothing. This liquid contains pheromones that attract more lady beetles to a property, which is why these insects often invade in large numbers.
Lady Beetle Prevention Tips
When it comes to preventing lady beetles from entering a Rock Island home, it’s important to keep them out of the yard. A few ways you can deter lady beetles from staying on your property include:
Removing plants that attract lady beetles, such as yarrow, tansy, and coriander
Trimming your grass short
Cutting thick brush away from your exterior walls
Installing door sweeps along all exterior doorways
Keeping your garden areas at least 20 feet away from your home
Sealing cracks in the foundation of your home
Replacing torn window screens
Caulking gaps around loose-fitting doors and windows
If lady beetles have already invaded your Rock Island home, it’s time to contact professional pest control. Here at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators, we are dedicated to providing you with services that keep your property free of pests year-round. For more information about how we treat lady beetles or to schedule a different home pest control service, reach out to the professionals at Quik-Kill today!