Getting rid of ladybugs in the house might seem impossible, but it’s a doable task. According to the experts, it might be easier than you think.
Like most insects and small critters, Ladybugs are attracted to your home’s warmth and the safety it offers from the outside world. They will nest inside your home just like they would in a tree trunk or large rock.
Usually, ladybugs enter your home through windows, under doors and through drainage pipes. From there, they will secrete a special chemical to attract the rest of their colony. Ladybugs live for roughly a year, so these bugs can be tough to remove once they have made their way into your home.
But getting rid of them doesn’t have to be a difficult task.
According to Michigan State University entomologist Howard Russell, getting rid of ladybugs inside your home can be as simple as vacuuming them up. “Be aware that they may stink up your vacuum cleaner,” he told Prevention.
Once you spot a hoard of ladybugs inside your home, vacuum them up with the handheld nozzle of your vacuum cleaner and then dump them outside — far from your home’s windows and doors. They can fly, so you will have to move fast.
Once you have removed all of the ladybugs you can find, The Spruce reported that it is important to seal out any return visitors. This is the best way to proactively keep ladybugs from overwintering in your home, which is why it is best to do this in late spring.
Seal up any large holes in your home that ladybugs can pass through, ideally with metal mesh or concrete filler. Small cracks around window frames, pipes, cables and doors must be sealed with caulk or some other approved sealant sealant. Replace any damaged window screens and add rubber sweeps or foam weather stripping to all doors.
A clever way to keep ladybugs out of your home is to keep a garden. The Pest Rangers reported that giving ladybugs a place to feast, such as a garden, can distract them enough to keep them from your home entirely. Ladybugs and Asian beetles both love feeding on garden pests, especially aphids.
“It doesn’t matter if you are planting edible treats for your family or lovely flowers, having flora around your home can be enticing enough to keep these insects out,” the pest control company reported.
If planting an entire garden sounds too daunting, potting a batch of mums — chrysanthemum flowers — can have the same effect.
“If you want to ward these pests away, keep plants just outside the house at entry points: the doors, the windowsills, or even make a window box,” the company reported. “Mums are a simple, inexpensive way to keep the lady beetles away.”
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