Seasonal swarms of Asian lady beetles bugging insect experts, throughout N. America

Seasonal ladybug swarms pester even bug experts

ST. LOUIS — Seasonal swarms of ladybugs are pestering residents across parts of North America. Even insect experts are bugged by them.

Pest control specialist Gene Scholes said this week that thousands of Asian lady beetles have congregated outside his Hannibal, Mo., home. Dozens more have weaseled their way inside.

The beetle swarms tend to be heaviest on warm days after a period of cooler weather, Scholes and other insect experts said. Infestations have been reported from Illinois to Massachusetts to the Toronto area.

The bugs are particularly drawn to light-colored buildings with sunny exposures as they seek a warm place to settle for the winter.

To get rid of the bugs, Scholes and others suggest using a vacuum cleaner to collect them, then emptying the vacuum outside.