While "pest-proofing" a structure can eliminate many ways that insects can enter, it is impossible to eliminate all of them. The idea of placing lady beetle "shelters" on the outer walls of buildings or some distance away from buildings to lure and collect them before they get inside is appealing. This approach was investigated in a study reported recently by personnel with the North Carolina Department of Ag and Consumer Services. They evaluated shelters similar to those sold by garden centers and mail order catalogs. Asian lady beetles showed no preference for shelters, even when they were baited with containers of live beetles. At this point, use of lady beetle shelters to keep beetles from entering structures is not an effective strategy.

Multicolored Asian lady beetles are consistently attracted to certain structures each fall. It appears likely that the beetles first respond to environmental clues to get them moving. Once in the movement mode, they probably follow visual and/or chemical cues to get to their protected sites. The size, location, and reflectiveness of a structure seem to be important factors in attraction. These characteristics are difficult or impossible to change and we do not know enough to be recommending such approaches to beetle management.

If beetles were a problem in a structure over the past few falls, it is very likely that they will be back this year.

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North Carolina State University