They speckle children's storybook tales with their polka-dotted presence and are even considered cute by some. However, if you are one of the homeowners who wakes to find a drove of ladybugs inside of your home or gathering by the hundreds on the sides of your house, these primly pretty bugs may not seem so pretty anymore. Lady bugs are actually Lady Asian Beetles, which are members of the Coccinellidae family. While the most commonly referenced lady bug is red with black spots, these insects can be a range of colors from yellow to orange. 

Why are ladybugs so prevalent at certain times of the year?

If you are like most homeowners, you will notice a larger population of lady bugs during the late summer and into fall until the temperatures drop. Most people don't know that lady bugs hibernate during the coldest months of the year. Therefore, when the weather changes before winter and the days get a little shorter, lady bugs often gather together to look for nesting areas where they can hibernate through the coldest seasons. 

Are lady bugs a danger to your home or family?

Lady bugs are not really a threat to your home or your family, but they can definitely be a nuisance. In large numbers, the natural odor of the bugs can be overwhelming. While the bugs are not toxic to humans, they can be toxic to pets and other animals if the animals eat the bugs. In some situations, lady bugs can be harmful to plants because they do eat the plants, but this depends on the specific type of insect. Lady bugs can and do bite, but their small moths would only deliver a minor skin irritation at best. 

Are there ways to combat a lady bug problem on your own?

The biggest factor in controlling a lady bug population is to ensure your home is properly sealed off from the outdoors. If you do notice the insects gathering on the exterior walls of your home, make sure you do a quick check around doors, windows, attic vents, and other openings where the bugs may try to crawl inside to hibernate. There are deterrent sprays that can be used to treat the outside of your home so the lady bugs will no longer find it attractive. However, the most effective methods for eliminating a lady bug infestation do usually come from a professional pest control agent. 

Get more info by contacting a company that offers lady bug pest control.