Lady Bug Control In Alexandria VA

Lady Bugs in Alexandria VA

There are about 5,000 different species of ladybugs in the world. These much loved critters are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. They come in many different colors and patterns, but the most familiar in Alexandria VA is the seven-spotted ladybug, with its shiny, red-and-black body. In many cultures, ladybugs are considered good luck.

Most people like ladybugs because they are pretty, graceful, and harmless to humans. But farmers love them because they eat aphids and other plant-eating pests. One lady bug can eat up to 5,000 pest insects in its lifetime! Most ladybugs have oval, dome-shaped bodies with six short legs. Depending on the species, they can have spots, stripes, or no markings at all. Seven-spotted ladybugs are red or orange with three spots on each side and one in the middle. They have a black head with white patches on either side.

Asian Beetle Or Ladybug?

Are ladybugs and Asian beetles the same? No! The ladybug looking bug you’re thinking about is probably the Asian lady beetle. And although ladybugs and Asian lady beetles look similar and belong to the same insect family, they do not behave similarly.

Ladybugs are considered highly beneficial, harmless insects. They don’t bite, they consume several harmful garden pests such as aphids, and they never congregate in large numbers. Most importantly, when it gets cold they seek shelter outdoors.

Asian lady beetles are considered a true pest. Unlike ladybugs, Asian lady beetles will gather in large groups, especially around warm, reflective surfaces like windows. Asian lady beetles “bite” by scraping the skin they land on, and leave a yellow, foul-smelling liquid on surfaces where they gather.

Worst of all, Asian lady beetles will attempt to enter your home in Alexandria VA when they look for overwintering shelters.

Orange Ladybugs in Alexandria VA

Ladybugs are unquestionably one of the world’s most fascinating insects. They come in different colors and are generally friendly and docile. But have you ever seen an orange ladybug in Alexandria VA? If so, you’ve probably come across a distinct type of them. These orange ones are also known as Asian Lady Beetles, which, unlike their more gentle cousins, can bite and be aggressive. Not all ladybugs are poisonous or dangerous to humans. However, the orange ladybugs have the most toxins in their bodies, which can cause allergies in some people and in some cases, may be fatal to animals. It’s important to note that even though they are more aggressive than the typical red ladybug, they typically do not attack anything other than aphids, mealybugs, and other insects.

While ladybugs do not sting, they can bite. Orange Ladybugs tend to have the most toxins in their bodies compared to other colored ones. As a result, they can cause an allergic skin reaction in some people. Apart from bites, ladybugs can also “pinch” their enemies with their limbs. They are not known to be carriers of human diseases. So, if one bites or pinches you, it shouldn’t cause any illnesses.

Orange Ladybugs are beneficial for pest control in the wild, but they can be a nuisance in the house. When disturbed, these beetles emit an unpleasant odor. They also produce yellow secretions that can discolor surfaces. Orange ladybugs like to land on clothing and bite or pinch upon human contact. They have sharp yet tiny mouthparts that allow them to chew and bite. It’s pinprick-like, rarely harmful, and will probably leave just a red mark on the skin.

Larval Ladybugs in Alexandria VA: Are They Friends Or Foes?

Everyone recognizes lady beetles, or ladybugs, and welcomes them into their gardens. Unfortunately, baby lady beetles look nothing like they do as adults. Instead of bright red shells and black dots, ladybug larvae resemble tiny black alligators and do not look like something you want crawling around your plants. Take a good look, because the last thing you want to do is kill these garden allies before they reach maturity.

The ladybug nymph is about 1/2 inch in length, with an elongated, spiny body. It is black with red, orange or white markings. Their appearance can be quite alarming, but they won't harm either you or your plants. They will spend several weeks eating pest insects until they eventually pupate and emerge as adults.

Lady beetles overwinter in Alexandria VA as adults in dry, protected areas such as tree bark, house shingles, or even indoors in attics. They come out from cover in early spring and begin feeding and laying eggs right away. One female lady beetle can lay up to 1,000 eggs over a three-month period. When the young lady beetles emerge from the eggs as larvae, they look like the picture shown and begin feeding immediately.

Yellow Ladybugs in Alexandria VA

Yellow ladybugs are seen around the world. They live in Asia, Oceania, and North America. These bugs are often received with joy, many due to their looks. Just like Ladybirds, yellow ladybugs come with black spots or black marks. They have the same dome-shaped body and they can fly similarly to Ladybirds. Yellow ladybugs are either known for eating either other bugs or a range of flowers, mainly from agricultural fields. Despite their potentially harmful effect on agriculture, these bugs are perceived as lucky by those who see them in many parts of the world. Their spiritual meaning is often different from their impact on these crops.

Many yellow ladybugs are known to develop black spots on their bodies as well. These are often quantified as they’re always the same number of spots. The number of black spots on yellow ladybugs often inspires their name, such as in the case of the Fourteen-spotted Lady Beetle or the 22-Spot Ladybird. Ladybugs are known to fully develop their color as they get out of the pupa. They might be pale yellow at first but their final yellow color shade settles within days. Yellow ladybugs are also known to have small coloring shade differences depending on their genus. Males might be brighter or darker yellow compared to females.

Ladybug Infestation In Alexandria VA

Most complaints of ladybug infestations are caused by the Asian lady beetle, which was introduced into Alexandria VA and many other regions of the U.S. as a natural control for soft-bodied, crop-destroying insects. These beetles would normally hibernate for the winter inside of caves and rocky crevices. However, in developed areas they have the pesky tendency to overwinter inside our homes!