Another Sign of Spring is here

[TonyW]

It's finally warming up and we're being invaded with ladybugs in the house - they winter in the heating system and appear in spring - currently vacuuming up 100+ a day and increasing. Been happening ever since Harmonia axyridis (the Asian Lady Beetle) decided to come to Canada after arriving by boat in New Orleans back in 1988. Apparently there's an Australian one around too that's on the way. Like bats they're good for insect pests outside but not in the house. Anyone else having this or a similar insect problem?

This was one of many in the shower this morning :eek:

Tony

http://www2.ebtech.net/~lara/ladybug.jpg

[Jan Ruthig]

2 years ago we have the lady bugs. What a pain!!!:eek: I was also vacuuming up 100 or so a day for a while. Yuck!!!!!!! Now we have just a few but last year we were inundated with the Japanese Beetles.

[jo]

The little buggers get in my house in Ohio, too, and THEY BITE. They haven't been as bad this year but a year or two ago I was "collecting" them in a jar of mouthwash with a lid. Don't know why I decided to drop them in mouthwash... This year I just scoop up one at a time and throw them back outside where they'll do some good.

[Jan Ruthig]

Yes, they DO bite!!!!:eek:

[NMarti]

Just started seeing them in the house this year. So far not too bad but last year!!!:eek: They were everywhere - hundreds of them. We were almost afraid to go to sleep because you would wake up with at least a dozen of them on you.

[Jan Ruthig]

Nancy,

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

[troush]

Haven't seen any in the house this year. We just moved in a year ago, and found a few "remains" if you know what I mean. I'm hoping to plant rose bushes this year, so hopefully that will keep them outside (they eat aphids, which love roses). But, I have occassionally seen one outside.

No, our sign of spring has been the woodpecker that keeps banging on the chimney cap - it is made of metal, so it sounds like a jackhammer coming out of the fireplace.

-Trish

[Grant]

Anyone else having this or a similar insect problem?


Tony



A number of years back we were installing a new computerized control system in a very large generating station on the shores of Lake Erie. I came to work that day and got of an elevator just in front of the air intake ducts The ground was covered with literally thousands upon thousands of these little creatures. While they were all dead, they made a wonderful crunching sound as you stepped on them and created the most amazing slippery skating rink. I got back on the elevator and ordered a general clean up before we sent men into the area. That day we threw out bags and bags of little dead bugs. Kind of sickening when you think about it.

.

[Jan Ruthig]

Grant,

Thank you for sharing that visual image of crunching thousands of bugs! :D

[ktnoon60]

Oooh gross Grant, can't image bags and bags of bugs. Totally gross. I never knew ladybugs bit I thought they were totally harmless.

Kt

[TonyW]

Grant: Where was your camera? That would have made such an interesting challenge image ;)

Tony

[Grant]

Grant: Where was your camera?
Tony


Bringing a camera into the places I work is a great way to get you fired, or worse.

.

[bjorg]

Yes they bite....and they swarm you on the golf course. Hopefully we will not get them in PA this year....we had them a couple of years back. I have seen a few in my bedroom window but not too many! Here's wishing on a lady bug!
By the way....great picture of the bug!

[jazzfisher]

I was always told Ladybugs are good luck if they land on you. They sell them here to put in your garden. We don't see many of them.

[lindajay]

Wow! I never knew about lady bugs being pests. Didn't know they came indoors. Didn't know they bite! Everywhere I've lived they were just occasionally seen outdoors, and we always loved seeing them and letting one walk on our fingers. I'm amazed to hear these stories. By the way, the photo is great! I just never thought about a little lady bug casting a shadow :D

--Linda

[Shari]

None around here - but we are in a condo. Tony what kind of camera do you have. Your last close up shots have been fabulous. The first day with my new camera I had great macros. The next day no. I am trying to read and get info from a camera site about using macros, zoom and distances. Think that might be my problem. So much learning to do! Then again, in your case it's probably not the camera but the photographer. Good job.
Shari

[Robyn]

I don't know what they are called in the rest of Australia (Karen or Donna??), but here in Tasmania (well at least in my family) we have always referred to these as Ladybirds not Ladybugs. I seem to have a whole colony of them that live in my big outdoor umbrella. I always store it away during the winter.......then a couple of years ago when I got it out of storage and was putting it up, there they were.....and now they seem to have an ongoing presence there.

[virgo1]

Great shot of the house pests, good for the garden though. I was told they are an Asian ladybeatle, not the same as the Northamerican ladybug. They are being used to control soy bead aphids. I've sent 2 or 3 down the drain today.
Eva;)

[Wendy]

Hi Robyn ...

Here in the UK we call them Ladybirds too ... I remember as a child when a Ladybird landed on us ... we used to chant a little rhyme:

Ladybird Ladybird fly away home
your house is on fire and your children are gone
all except one and thats little Ann
for she crept under the frying pan ..

Oh that took me back to childhood ..

Wendy

[TonyW]

Funny how whatever they're called in different places they always seem to be ladies. It does have me wondering why :D

Tony

[karen donnybrook]

Yes, Robyn, they are Ladybirds here too but their colour is quite an intense orange/red and I have never, ever seen them in plague proportions!

[jazzfisher]

Wendy,
We said pretty much the same thing--except we called them ladybugs, & I don't think we had a specfic name for the kid under the frying pan. But you were to make a wish as they flew away.

[Wendy]

Sherry ..

It always facinates me how childrens rhymes go on for so long and how they seem to travel the world :)

Wendy

[Norm F]

...and such a happy little rhyme!

[Wendy]

Norm ...

Its not as bad as Ring a ring of roses :)

Wendy

[jazzfisher]

It just goes to show--no matter where you are--we are more alike than different.
Nursery Rhymes & fairy Tales--think about all the bad stuff that happens in them, & they keep on being passed down from one generation to the next.:)

[Norm F]

Norm ...

Its not as bad as Ring a ring of roses :)

Wendy

Wendy,

I don't think I know that one. :confused:

[Jan Ruthig]

I wonder if that one is like Ring Around the Roses??

[jazzfisher]

Jan,
I would be they are one & the same--we probably got our sayings from England in the first place.

[Jodi Frye]

How ironic..I haven't been around much...hold your breathe...SPRING CLEANING...yes, she does do this :) Just took the plastic off the windows upstairs in the kids room and had to vaccuum up 2 million ladybugs...every year it's the same ritual...but it doesn't bother me since that would suggest Spring has finally come ! We are having a lovely warm spring. I've been cleaning just about all day but I will be getting outside shortly to start the ' 5, 6 Pick up sticks' spring march through the yard.

BY the way...Don't mean to get anyone alarmed BUT I was watching Dateline, NBC and Beg Bugs are back ! You need not worry if you don't plan on traveling to any major cities and spending time in major Motels/Hotels...that is where the beg bugs are. 5 Star Hotels in NYC have rooms with bed bugs ! They had people talking about their experiences which included photos of biten up hotel guests...it was soooooo disgusting. Hidden cameras went into rooms...they lifted the mattresses and saw the bugs. They are about the size of a ladybugs but blackish and they suck your blood beween 3 and 5 am. In the US bed bugs were pretty much terminated with pesticides but these are bugs that are traveling in from different countries...hitchin a ride in luggage etc...So...if you plan to travel and stay in a major motel you must check the bed for bugs before deciding to stay....lift up the mattress and hold your breathe.

[Norm F]

They are about the size of a ladybugs but blackish and they suck your blood beween 3 and 5 am.

Mmmm, mmmm! Are they only available in five star hotels? Those are a little out of my league.

As sickening as they sound, I'll bet they're not the worst things that could be found through a careful inspection of most hotel rooms.

[jazzfisher]

Norm,
Right you are there!!! They did one of those Dateline things a while back. And found many human fluids (being polite) in places you never would have thought!:eek:

PS> Never sit on or touch the bedspread after you remove it from the bed........

[Jan Ruthig]

Sherry,

That sounds .... interesting!?! :eek: Maybe camping is a GOOD thing!! In my own bed with my own linens and bedspread....

[jazzfisher]

Jan,
As much as I dislike camping--it maybe be a good thing!

[virgo1]

I think the tent trailer was good decision after all, at least May thru October. Other than a few flies, it's "shop-vac" clean. Since we don't travel much in the winter except to see family, we haven't had to worry about hotels. IMHO, 5 star hotels are boring in the first place, too much sameness. If I'm going to be bit by bugs, prefer being bitten while camping.:) PS, Our first trip is 9 days in May. :D
Eva;)

[Norm F]

My bet is that if you took a blue light to your next hotel stay, you'd take a tent on the following trip.

[virgo1]

Norm,
Expresso made on the camp stove and enjoyed in the woods is bliss to me. So what if I have to walk to the restrooms, the campground ones are cleaner. I've done a lot of camping since childhood and haven't gotten tired of it yet.:)
Eva;)