Tips for managing ladybug INVASION?

[BGalloway]

It's that time of year, the ladybugs are trying to find a nice warm place to overwinter. Really I don't mind sharing my room with one or two of the little bugs...but 20?!?! And there are more crawling about this morning.

I have duct taped my window so NOTHING is getting in through there. Unfortunately old dorm rooms are FULL of HOLES and none of them are sealed. The university won't kill ladybugs, which is A-OK with me, but I just want them out of my room.

Does anyone have any tips for keeping out ladybugs? Any natural deterrents that are safe to use around geckos and food? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Kristi23]

I must have killed at least 10 in the house yesterday. I looked at the light and there were 7 on it at once. I hate this time of year and would love to hear some tips. We used to bug bomb the house, but we can't do that anymore. It's been years and the bugs are showing up again.:main_angry:

 

[thestack510]

I'm not sure, but I would try Mantids. I'm pretty sure they'll eat all the other bugs and leave in search of the next meal. That's just what came to mind.

 

[BioWorkZ]

Ladybugs are harmless aren't they? They're great for keep your roses from being completely consumed by aphids.

 

[OhioGecko]

The sweeper works best for us

 

[Chewbecca]

Ladybugs are harmless aren't they? They're great for keep your roses from being completely consumed by aphids.

These aren't the red and black, cute, and harmless ladybugs, though.
These things are the orange ones that DO bite.

 

[BGalloway]

Introducing mantids probably wouldn't work as the ladybugs are indoors. Sweeping doesn't work either when they're on the ceiling light and fly at you. The ones in my room ar ethe black and red...biting ladybugs sound frightening! I know they're good for plants so I'd prefer non-lethal removal.

So far all I can think of is find where they're coming from and block it up with duct/electrical tape.

 

[Tony C]

Are they edible? You could turn a tokay loose for a while...

 

[BioWorkZ]

Are they edible? You could turn a tokay loose for a while...

Ladybugs release a foul smelling fluid from their body when they are threatened. I don't think any geckos would like to eat them.

 

[Kristi23]

Yes, these ones smell and bite. I wish we had the nice ladybugs here.

 

[thestack510]

Introducing mantids probably wouldn't work as the ladybugs are indoors.

I was refering to indoors. :main_laugh: Once the food source is depleted I'm sure the mantids would gladly move on if you release them. I have heard that people used to tether mantids to there bed posts for the purpose of removing other pests such as bed bugs, in the past.

 

[acpart]

If there is a kind of plant that attracts lady bugs, you could get some of that, "collect" them and toss them out. I have a tree of sharon that attracts lady bug larva, but I don't know about mature ones.

Aliza

 

[Ehatcher]

AK-47 ... it helps with zombies too!

 

[BGalloway]

The weather's changed so most of the ladybugs are gone somewhere else, yay for having a broken heater keeping the room at 70 or less. Unfortunately I've got 4 ladybugs leftover so they're my new 'roommates' who I'm not squishing or kicking out. If the invasion starts up again I'm going to jar them and take them to an insect sciences professor.

If they're harlequin ladybugs, an invasive species, I'm hounding my RA to get housing services to get rid of them. If he doesn't, I'll say "thanks for your effort" and give him a ladybug attracting plant as a "gift", bwahahaha:devilish:. Then I'll take out my nerf gun (from Humans versus Zombies), we're not allowed to use AK-47s , and get shooting.

Then I'll put the rest in a box, and I'll put that box in a box, mail it to myself, and when it arrives I'll smash it with a hammer!:smash::main_evilgrin:...or in reality I'll just go live in my friend's apartment for a week because I don't have the guts to deal with bureaucracy.