(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — An insect that looks like a ladybug and is very busy these days has some unladylike behavior.
Asian lady beetles are crowding out native ladybugs by gobbling up resources — and occasionally their beetle cousins.
State Entomologist Chris Dietrich, with the Illinois Natural History Survey, said the invasive species was introduced decades ago to control aphids on crops.
“It’s kind of gotten out of hand,” Dietrich said. “They’re now extremely abundant.”
He said they’ve become the dominant species because their larvae also eat ladybugs, as well as fall fruits such as pumpkins.
They range in color from pale orange to dark red. Some have spots, and others don’t.
With the cold weather coming, Dietrich said they’re looking for places indoors to stay warm. They often gather on southern walls in small crevices and on windowsills.
Dietrich said he likes to vacuum them up, but they can release a smelly liquid — so you may want to empty the bag quickly.
That reaction, Dietrich said, is another way to know they’re Asian lady beetles; ladybugs are smaller and don’t stink or bite when threatened.
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