With this theory

in mind, several new exotic lady beetle species were introduced into Southern

Georgia to battle damaging insect pest on several of our agronomic crops

such as pecans, corn, cotton, apples and ornamentals. One of these species

was the Asian lady beetle. These beetles once released moved northward

toward our part of the state.

As winter approaches,

the Asian lady beetles start to congregate in large numbers looking for

places to hibernate. Their preferred hibernation habitat is large cavities

such as tree hollows and under rocks. However, they have rapidly adapted

to houses as a great place to hibernate. They are particularly attracted

to light colored structures with sunny southwest exposures.

On sunny winter

days some homeowners can find literally thousands of these crawling all

over the house. On occasion these lady beetles find a way inside the household.

This is when people view them as Mr. Hyde. They can be very pesky as they

crawl over walls, ceilings and floors and hide in corners and cracks of

the house.

However, remember

that lady beetles do not bite, sting or carry human diseases. Nor, do

they feed on wood, clothing or human food or reproduce inside the home.

If you are

dealing with the Mr. Hyde lady beetle, here are some tips to help control

them inside your house.

To prevent

lady beetles from entering the house, use a good quality caulk to seal

cracks and crevices around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes and other

openings.

Install insect

screening (20 mesh maximum) over attic and exhaust vents to prevent entry.

Remove lady

beetles inside the home with a broom and dust pan or vacuum cleaner and

release the captured beetles outdoors in sheltered areas.

Avoid killing

those found indoors by spraying them with insecticide or squashing them.

Handling lady

beetles or picking them off the walls can stress the beetles. Stressed

beetles secrete an orange substance that can stain walls and fabrics.

So are lady

beetles your Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Once you understand their beneficial

aspects and know how to deal with them during the winter, there is little

doubt that the benefits of Dr. Jekyll outweighs the nuisance of Mr. Hyde.

For more information

on lady beetles or other insects, feel free to call or visit us at the

Fayette County Extension Service in the Fayette County Administrative

Complex, Suite 209 in Fayetteville. The phone number is 770-460-5730,

ext. 5412. The Extension Service has over 400 free publications worth

reading including classics such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde lady beetles.

Sheldon Hammond

Fayette Co. Extension

Agent

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