"Not only do they have a pinching bite if they land on a person, but the ladybug impostors emit a defensive yellow fluid that has a foul odor, irritates human skin, and can stain fabrics. The PennState Extension warned: 'It is not uncommon for tens of thousands of beetles to congregate in attics, ceilings and wall voids, and due to the warmth of the walls, will move around inside these voids and exit into the living areas of the home.'"
"Although the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) was deemed an invasive species by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the 2000s, the bugs were not carried here by accident or sent here by another nation to cause harm. The US intentionally brought the beetles here over a century ago from countries including China, Russia, and Japan to fight native pests that were killing crops and plants."
Asian lady beetles swarm into US homes each fall and winter, sometimes forming 'death spiral' clusters and congregating in walls, attics, ceilings and other warm voids. These infestations occur in nearly every US state and can involve tens of thousands of beetles that move from wall voids into living areas. The beetles can pinch-bite people, emit a foul-smelling yellow defensive fluid that irritates skin and stains fabrics, and the fluid can trigger allergic reactions or sinus problems. The species was intentionally introduced from Asia over a century ago and later released by the USDA as a biological control, resulting in widespread establishment and nuisance infestations.
Read at Mail Online
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]