How to Get Rid of Asian Lady Beetles

When the days cool in October, Asian lady beetles gather on sunny walls and look for a warm way inside, and they can show up indoors in large numbers. Getting rid of them is mostly about keeping them out. Here is how.

Why Asian lady beetles come inside in the fall

Asian lady beetles spend the winter in sheltered spots, and a warm house is an easy choice. In the fall they gather on the sunny south and west sides of a home and work their way in through gaps around windows, doors, siding and attic vents. Once inside, they settle in walls and attics and show up at windows and lights on warm days. They are easy to mistake for native ladybugs. Look for a white M-shaped marking behind the head, where native ladybugs have two small white spots. Asian lady beetles can also give a small pinch, which native ladybugs do not. (How to tell them apart: Asian lady beetle vs. ladybug)

How to get rid of Asian lady beetles

Start outside, before they move in. Seal gaps around window frames, doors, siding and vents, and repair torn screens. Then apply Barricade along the outside of the house, concentrating on window and door frames, siding and other entry points. Barricade creates a barrier against household pests that lasts up to 90 days. Although Asian lady beetles are not specifically named on its label, it can be used as a layer alongside sealing gaps and vacuuming. Indoors, vacuum the beetles you find instead of crushing them, since crushed beetles can leave a yellow stain, and empty the vacuum outside. For a cluster on a windowsill or wall, mist them directly. Our in-house evaluations have shown that Six Feet Under, made with plant-derived ingredients, is effective against beetles on contact when used as directed.

Get rid of Asian lady beetles, step by step

• Seal early: close gaps around windows, doors, siding and vents in late summer.
• Treat the outside: apply Barricade around the house before they gather.
• Vacuum, do not crush: collect the ones indoors and empty the vacuum outside.
• Spot-treat: mist Six Feet Under on windows and walls and let the spray dry.

Related: How to get rid of carpet beetles and How to get rid of drugstore beetles.

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