Buzz
Photo: Raquel GM/Getty ImagesLadybugs are incredibly helpful insects, known for preying on garden nuisances such as aphids and mealybugs, which can harm your plants. (Plus, they’re undeniably adorable!) However, during certain seasons, you might notice an overwhelming number of ladybugs making their way inside, which, despite their harmless nature, can become quite bothersome.
What causes ladybugs to suddenly appear in your home, and how can you address this issue without causing harm to these garden heroes? Learn more about why ladybugs might decide to pay you a visit.
Why Ladybugs Come Indoors During the Fall
Similar to other creatures, ladybugs seek warm shelters to overwinter as temperatures drop and their food sources dwindle, explains Thomas Dobrinska, BCE, PHE, and technical service manager at Terminix. While they typically nest under leaves, rocks, or landscape materials, your home can also become an attractive option.
"Ladybugs are usually attracted to the southern and western sides of homes, where the contrast between sunlight and shadow is most pronounced," Dobrinska notes. "They then look for small gaps, cracks, or spaces to settle in for the winter months."
These spots often include parts of your house. "During warmer or sunnier winter days, some ladybugs may become active and enter living areas through small openings, cracks, or gaps. Common entry points include canned lighting between attics and living spaces, as well as chimney crevices."
How to Prevent Ladybugs in Your Home
Similar to certain less-helpful insects, ladybugs enter homes through small gaps and cracks. Dobrinska advises sealing your home to prevent their entry. "Ensure all vents are covered with at least 16-mesh screens. Seal around conduit entries, window and door frames, and fascia board gaps," Dobrinska explains. "These measures should be completed by June or July to avoid trapping ladybugs inside before they naturally leave in mid- to late spring."
How to Get Rid of Ladybugs
Crushing or spraying ladybugs seems unethical, given their significant benefits to gardens—and such methods can have unintended consequences. "Avoid killing these beetles in wall voids, as their remains can attract other insects that feed on them," Dobrinska warns. Instead, opt for humane methods to remove them from your home or tolerate their presence temporarily.
"Most overwintering ladybugs reside in void spaces and only enter living areas accidentally," Dobrinska notes. If temperatures are above freezing, you can collect stray ladybugs in a jar or cup and release them outdoors—though they might return.
If you’re determined to keep them out (and are comfortable with eliminating them), you can vacuum up visible ladybugs or use insect light traps in attics.
Alternatively, provide them with a safe space to stay until the weather improves. "Typically, as the seasons shift and temperatures rise steadily, most ladybugs will naturally exit your home," Dobrinska states.
