Its Fall in New York, And The Ladybugs Are Loving It

Posted on October 23, 2009 with No Comments

CREDIT: nkzs

Ladybug populations stay the same throught the year, except in the winter were many die during hibernation, then why do they seem to be more populous during the autumn months?  The reason for this is because of the weather variations seen during late September thru early November.  The ladybugs look for a place to hibernate and your house is a perfect resting ground.  Older homes with poor insulation radiate more heat and homes with good sunlight usually get the most ladybug swarms.  When a day starts to show a glimpse of winter (when temperatures drop way below average) they start to find places to hibernate.  They will form large clusters to help insulate them for the winter.  Yet, after a day or so when temperatures go back to normal or even above normal, the ladybugs will want to return to the outdoors.  This is when you will see them all over the house, creating an unfimiliar house pest.  During fall days this is why they seem as if they have multiplied by a hundred times.

Other places have seen an actual increase in ladybug population.  This increase of population is due to an increase of aphids which are pests that live on agricultural crops.  As their main source of food, ladybugs will migrate towards higher population of aphids.  In this sense people sometimes do not mind when ladybugs are around their property because the ladybugs will essentially save their gardens from the aphids.  Yet, it is in the fall season where they really become pests.  They seem as if they come from any open crack.  Well this is mostly true, they can really squeeze more than you think and that is why you see them all over the house in almost every room, if not all.  To prevent ladybug swarms in your house you really have to work at it.  You have to make sure you have adequate insulation, have sealed all cracks in windows and doors, as well as cracks in pipes.  Doing all this is time consuming and you should really look into professional help, while costing you cash out of the pocket, it will be of your benefit in the long run.