OFF THE RECORD: I just seem to have no luck with ladybugs

Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2003

“Ladybug! Ladybug!
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire,
And your children all gone.

All except one,
And that’s little Ann.
For she has crept under
The frying pan.”

It’s not exactly the cheeriest of children’s nursery rhymes, but Mother Goose wasn’t always warm and fuzzy with her words. Nevertheless, I grew up sing-songing it whenever I spied a ladybug — although I don’t recall the second verse.

I loved ladybugs as a kid; the stories surrounding them only added to their charm.

Legend has it that when insects were destroying crops in Europe during the Middle Ages, the Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary. The ladybugs soon arrived, ate the pests and saved the crops. From that time on, people began calling ladybugs “The Beetles of Our Lady” which eventually turned into “Lady Beetles.” The red wings represented the Virgin Mary’s cloak and the black spots her joys and sorrows.

Swedish lore has it if a ladybug lands on a young maiden’s hand, she’ll soon marry. In France, if you’re sick and a ladybug lands on you, when it flies away it will take the sickness, too. And at one time, doctors mashed up ladybugs and put them in cavities to cure toothaches. And if you find a ladybug in your house in the winter, you’ll have good luck.

Well, I’ve found hundreds of ladybugs in my house for the past two winters, and although I appreciate the good luck — they’re starting to bug me.

According to the WSU Master Gardeners, ladybugs are increasing in numbers in Western Washington. And the type we’re seeing is the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, found in Japan, Korea and other parts of Asia. They’re a multicolored species, ranging from black with two red spots to red with 19 black spots (the ones that cling to my windows and walls have about a dozen black spots on a dark butterscotch/mahogany colored shell).

So how did these Asian ladies get all the way to Whidbey Island?

The species was introduced by USDA Agricultural Research scientists 20-some years ago to control soft-bodied insects. And even though they were released in Eastern Washington, they ended up on the wet side of the mountains.

Go west, young ladies, go west!

Although the species was often found living in cliffs in Asia, here they tend to migrate to houses — houses just like mine. They seem to prefer-light colored homes (that’s me); enter through the cracks of older homes (that’s me); and bunk down for the winter (with me!).

So what’s the solution?

The WSU Master Gardeners tout the benefits of ladybugs: They decrease the aphid, mite and scale insects that infest ornamental trees and shrubs. This results in less dependence on insecticides and an improved environment.

Well, I’m all for that, but what do I do with them in the meantime? Ladybug decor ain’t my thing.

Amy Dreves of the Oregon State University Extension office recommends the following ways to cope with ladybug invasions:

• Fix damaged screens, leaky door cracks and seals on windows. Install insect screening over attic and exhaust fans.
• Collect ladybugs off walls and building sides by gently sweeping them into a container (jar or paper bag) with air holes. Place straw or other dry materials in the container and keep in the refrigerator all winter. Release them in the spring after it starts warming up.

  There’s no guarantee that they will stay around, but they may be feeding on pest insects somewhere. If you grow plants that beneficial insects prefer (yarrow, alyssum, sweet fennel, hairy vetch, flowering buckwheat, caraway), the ladybugs may be encouraged to stick around.

• Vacuum them up; but remember, this may kill them.
• Let them be. But be forewarned that if you disturb them they may “bleed” the “yellow-orange” substance through their joints that may smell and stain walls, paint and fabric.

One last word of warning: ladybugs bite. They have mandibles and are more than eager to snack on your skin.

Hopefully not in the middle of the night.

Sue Frause can be reached by e-mail at skfrause@whidbey.com.