04/08/2026
Not all "ladybugs" are the same.
And the ones in your house? They're probably NOT ladybugs.
β NATIVE ladybugs (Coccinella spp.): round, bright red, few spots, stay outdoors
β Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis): more oval, orange-ish, M-shaped mark on head, INVADE homes
Asian lady beetles:
β Introduced to the US intentionally in the 1970s-80s for aphid control
β Became INVASIVE within decades
β Enter homes in SWARMS in fall (seeking winter shelter)
β BITE when handled (native ladybugs don't)
β Release foul-smelling orange "reflex blood" that STAINS walls and fabrics
β Outcompete native ladybugs for food and habitat
β Native ladybug populations have CRASHED since their introduction
How to tell them apart:
β Asian: M or W-shaped mark on the white area behind the head
β Asian: more orange than red
β Asian: more oval (native is more round)
β Asian: highly variable spot patterns (some have many, some have none)
β Asian: enters your house (native doesn't)
If you have Asian lady beetles in your house:
β Vacuum them (don't crush β the stain and smell are terrible)
β Seal entry points (window frames, door gaps, soffit vents)
β They're not dangerous β just annoying and smelly
For your garden:
β ATTRACT native ladybugs with native plants (yarrow, fennel, dill)
β DON'T buy ladybugs online (usually Asian species, and they fly away immediately)
β The best ladybug population comes naturally from healthy habitat
The ladybug in your house isn't what you think it is.
And the real ladybug is losing the competition. π