Ladybird invasion

[labradors]

Asian ladybirds invaded yesterday and I was surprised to see a lot of dead ones on the windowsill and floor this afternoon. Using a dustpan and brush I swept them all up and took them out to the chickens who were delighted to feast on dehydrated ladybirds :)

Linda

[Farrier1987]

How are Asian ladybugs different than native ones? I know the native ones are beneficial to have around, and will be going into hibernation in leaf mulch and such right now.

[labradors]

The Asian ones BITE !!!!! Apart from that, I think they are the same......

Linda

[windwalkingwolf]

they like to land on me and bite! But I also like to keep some on my pepper plants over the winter to eat aphids and spider mites, so we have an uneasy truce.

[Jaye]

The Asian ones aren't ladybugs; nothing ladylike about them. They're nasty impersonators. And useless, unlike real ladybugs.

[Skinny rooster]

We used to have them by the hundreds but they seemed to fizzle out, this year however there are a lot. Not like the hoards of cluster flies this year. I also read that the Asian bugs will sometimes eat fruit. Our lady bugs don't do that so they are better. Ours are much prettier and don't try to get into the house. Sadly I read that our lady bugs are starting to disappear because of the invasion.

[Farrier1987]

Picked raspberries yesterday, and ladybugs al over them, on the berries, some with mouth parts embedded in the fruit. Also some of them not so much orange, but more yellowy. Put the fruit in a bucket and covered with water and they all crawled out. Froze the berries this morning.

[ross]

Another case of man importing a worse problem .

[muffin57]

I have seen them, but I didn't know much about them other than they look like the lady bug, but aren't lady bugs. Ugh! They bite, good to know and I sure don't like that they eat the fruit. Like Jaye says "Nasty'.

[ross]

Yep .. Ouch