Lady Bug Identification & Prevention

Lady bugs are occasional invaders. Lady bugs overwinter inside homes and other buildings, typically entering inside in the late fall.

Description

Adult lady bugs have a distinctive appearance; they have a domed, oval-shaped body and are usually red, orange, or yellow, and have black spots on their bodies. Lady bugs have short antennae, and their head can tuck underneath their neckline-either partially or entirely.

Biology and Behavior

• The lifecycle of a lady bug includes four life stages: egg, larvae, pupal, and adult.
• Lady bug larvae are segmented, soft-bodied, bristled, and are mottled gray, black, or tan. 
• Lady bugs are beneficial insects because they help to control aphid populations by feeding on them.
• Lady bugs are attracted to the sunny, warm sides of buildings making their way inside through cracks and crevices found in exterior walls.
• Once inside, lady bugs find their way behind walls, inside attics and crawl spaces, behind window frames, and underneath floors.
• When found in large numbers, lady bugs can leave behind an odor likened to burned rubber or hot tar.
• When the weather warms up in the spring, they will move back outside to begin feeding, mating, and laying eggs.