by Donna Lewis
The Lady Bugs are HERE!!! How wonderful.
I tried to stay outside today for a while, but the annoying little darlings we call Ladybugs were everywhere. In my hair , down my coveralls, and on my precious little dogs.
I am sure all of you are having fun with them also. They are actually Asian beetles that originated in China, Japan , Korea, and Russia. They come in many colors and have different numbers of dots on them.
To make it even more interesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture brought them to the US to aid the farmers control of aphids and scale insects. This was done mostly to help out the pecan and apple farmers. I hope they are happy.
The rest of us have to deal with them in our houses and everywhere. They apparently really like light colors, white and yellow. Guess what color my house is??
Right now, I cannot go outside without a dozen coming into the house. Their only defense is a yellow foul-smelling fluid that shoots off their legs. Colorful, tricky, and icky.
The best way to collect them from your house or porch is to use the wet/dry vacuum. Then you take them elsewhere and let them go. I am sure most of you will do something else. Don’t tell me.
Cold weather will settle them down. Help is coming. Just go outside.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 
Wow, that’s so interesting about how they were brought here. I didn’t know about the sticky substance. Right now I’m welcoming them on my milkweed because one of them is covered in aphids. I usually rinse it off with a hard spray, but I’m letting the lady bugs have a chance at the aphid eggs. Sorry to hear there’s such a nuisance but glad to know there’s some tricks. 😊
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They will eat those aphids.
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