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Identification:
Asian Lady
Beetles (ALB's) are approximately 1/4 inch long, oval in shape and pale
yellow-orange to dark orange-red in color and often have several black spots
on their backs.
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| Origin:
These insects are
an alien species introduced into the United States in the 1970's and 1980's
as biological control for aphids and other agricultural crop pests.
Because they have no natural predators in this country, they have spread
rapidly throughout the U.S. and have become a nuisance to homeowners.
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| Food:
The primary food
source for ALB's are aphids and their larvae, residing on trees,
agricultural crops and ornamental plants.
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| Life Cycle:
The adult ALB
lays between 500-700 eggs each which hatch in about one month and there are
multiple generations each year. The developing larvae are red and
black and are shaped like a tiny alligator.
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| Habitat:
During the
summer months, ALB's are abundant on trees, agricultural crops and
ornamentals such as roses.
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| Overwintering:
Starting
around September through mid-November they seek suitable structures, such as
homes and other buildings, in which they overwinter, gathering in large
numbers and clusters. Common overwintering sites include cracks and
crevices around window and door frames, porches, garages, beneath exterior
siding, inside wall voids, crawl spaces attics and soffits.
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| Spring Activity:
As
temperatures start to warm in late winter and spring, the hibernating
beetles again become active, looking to escape to their natural habit and
become a nuisance to homeowners. They are attracted to light and are
usually seem near windows and on the sunny side of the structure.
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| Control:
The best method of
control for ALB's is to have the exterior of your sprayed with a residual pesticide in the fall, combined with a light hand-spraying of the key areas
of the interior when the insects first come on to the home. Due
to the sheer numbers in which these insects invade a structure and their
hardy nature, complete elimination is impossible, but this type of treatment
does provide excellent control and keeps the number of insects overwintering
in the home to a minimum.
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