TRI-STATE AREA -- The lady bugs have returned!

Each October, the Asian lady beetle, also known as the Japanese ladybug, shows up in the Tri-States.

Since the bug chooses October to try to find a nice place in your home to hibernate, it is also referred to as the Halloween lady beetle by some. 

These beetles are pests even to our own Rajah Maples, and although many folks have been dealing with the beetles this year, the good news is that it doesn’t seem to be an exceptional year for them. 

It’s interesting that these insects were actually purposely introduced to us by the United States Department of Agriculture on several occasions over the last several decades.

The beetles feed on tiny bugs called aphids, and aphids are responsible for destroying crops such as soybeans and pecan trees. The addition of the Asian beetle supposedly has saved farmers a lot of money. 

You can lower the chances that a large bunch of beetles will find their way inside your home. Be sure to close the screen door when you’re out on the patio – also, make sure the screen doesn’t have holes in it. The other main thing to do is to check your windows to make sure that there aren’t any areas that would allow the beetle to get in.

Do you have photos of lady bugs taking over your home? Post them on our Facebook page or email them to us at news7@khqa.com!