If your household has never had to think about a ladybird invasion, count yourself lucky. Plenty of people across the UK know exactly what one looks like, because come March and April they find swarms of ladybirds on their front doors, along window frames and across the walls inside their homes.
Ladybirds swarm as the weather turns colder. Looking for somewhere warm and dry to see out the winter, they hibernate in homes and gardens or tuck themselves away under tree bark and the like. When the warmth returns in March and April, they re-emerge, and that is when the indoor swarms appear.
Are ladybirds harmful?
Ladybirds are harmless to people. They do not sting. They can bite, but a ladybird bite will not cause any serious injury and will not spread disease. So if they are not dangerous, what exactly is the problem with an invasion of them?
The answer is sheer numbers, and the mess they leave. A swarm can run to hundreds of ladybirds, and that many insects pushing into your home in search of shelter can cause damage. A stressed ladybird secretes blood from the joints in its legs, which leaves an unpleasant smell behind. Worse, that blood stains, leaving orange marks on furniture, walls, carpets and soft furnishings.
Keeping ladybirds out
The best way to handle an invasion is to stop the ladybirds getting inside in the first place. That means finding and blocking up the small gaps and access points they use to get in.
If a swarm has already made it indoors, whether in the colder autumn months or as spring warms up, call us. It is worth dealing with quickly, before the ladybirds have a chance to mark your home. Our team can visit, identify where they are getting in, clear the swarm and leave your home ladybird free once again.