Help...Ladybird Invasion

bravobeastie

visiting my mum earlier she told me that when she got up this morning there were 20-30 ladybirds on the french windows INSIDE the house. She managed to get them outside but while I was sat there I saw at least another 5 that we managed to capture and chuck out. They seem to have a lot of spots on their back too which makes me think they are not native ladybirds.

Can anyone recommend a humane way to get rid of them or will she have to get in pest control if it continues?

Could they just have come out of hibernation after spending winter in the house and won't be seen again? She's only been in the house a week so unsure if this is recurring problem.

Thanks for any help!

bravobeastie

Not to worry, have found a few helpful websites. Turns out they are Harlequin Ladybirds, native to Asia and invading Britain eeeeek. Oh, and they can bite <yikes>

Aarons_mummy

Eeeeek!

At first I thought o0o0o pretty, now not so much!

pigpen

all ladybirds bite.. they are just beetles.

MrsBartolozzi

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1077262/Plagues-KILLER-ladybirds-brought-October-heatwave.html

Some onfo on the harlequin ladybird here (apologies that it's DM). Seem it sought refuge from the winter in your mum's house and now it's spring(ish) they are off to breed. As they decimate the native population it might be a good idea to kill them now. But then again they are good at eating aphids - any ideas on this folks??

rinabean

I get ladybirds inside the windows in summer. They are my cute little aphid-eating friends. However, I've not yet been bitten by one, so maybe I'll change my tune!

penguin83

I found 3 in our living room today. They were small and yellow and black. Yacky things! x

Penniesmakepounds

penguin83 wrote: »

I found 3 in our living room today. They were small and yellow and black. Yacky things! x

Harlequins were mentioned in the Independent report in 2007. They arrived in Britain in 2004, so have been here for quite a while, adding to British natural history along with the Rosemary beetle (who also consumes sage).
Professor Majerus, Britain's leading ladybird expert said, that at the moment there is no known organism which could control the harlequin.
He added: "It's certainly one of the most damaging invasive species Britain has ever had, right up there with the coypu, the grey squirrel and the mink."
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/invasion-of-the-harlequins-and-a-threat-to-the-survival-of-british-ladybirds-457048.html

MrsBartolozzi

So is the general consensus that we should kill them if we can? I mean if people find them in the house then it's quite easy to squish them and surely every one that doesn't get to breed is a help even if we can't eradicate them completely??

M0neysav3r

I'd like to know how the blooming things get inside!! We have at least 2 to get rid of most days.

DH has been squishing them but I must say I have been putting them back outside they smell when they're squished too!

bravobeastie

Don't squish. Apparently they leave a yellow substance known as reflex blood which stains everything from soft furnishings to walls and ceilings and it smells rather bad too. It seems the general consensus is to find out where they are coming in and fill it. Another option is to put a stocking inside the tube attachment on the hoover (secured at the top with a band) and hoover em up and dispose of them (though websites don't mention how) Don't just hoover them up and leave in the hoover cause again, the smell is bad and apparently you will never get rid of it. It will pong every time you use the hoover eurgh