CORTLAND Asian ladybugs start annual fall swarming in Ohio

The species was recognized in Ohio 10 years ago.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- They get tangled in your hair, cling to your clothing, swirl around light fixtures and divebomb into your drink -- not at all the ladylike behavior their name suggests.
They're multicolored Asian lady beetles, or ladybugs, and they've arrived.
"It's pretty typical of this time of year," said Steve Hudkins of the Trumbull County Extension office of the insects found swarming outside and moving into houses.
To add insult to nuisance, they give off a foul odor and can stain clothing, curtains or carpet with reddish-orange fluid when you disturb them.
It's called reflex bleeding -- the bug's way of protecting itself from predators.
The Asian beetles differ from the native ladybug dubbed the state insect.
They were recognized in Ohio in October 1993, when people reported large numbers congregating on buildings and homes, according to an Ohio State University Extension Service fact sheet.
The Asian beetles were brought to the United States many years ago as part of a program to control insect pests in trees.
"They're looking for places to hibernate," said Mike Sovik, program assistant in horticulture and a master gardener at OSU's Mahoning County extension office. "They're looking for a warm place."
In their native land, they migrate to cliffs, but with a dearth of cliffs in northeast Ohio, they opt for buildings, particularly those of a light color, and can squeeze through tiny openings to get inside.
Sovik leaves them alone in his house to snack on insects that are harmful to house plants. Aphids are a particularly favorite bug meal.
General nuisance
Although they may occasionally bite, they aren't harmful, according to Hudkins.
"They're just a general nuisance to have in the house," he said.
The extension office recommends using a vacuum cleaner to suck up the bugs. A knee-high sock may be inserted into the vacuum hose, secured with a rubber band to capture the beetles and discard them.
It's probably already too late this year to keep them from getting inside.
"You probably would have had to seal up the house before now," said Ray Novotny, a naturalist at Mill Creek MetroParks' Ford Nature Center.
They range from yellowish brown to deep red and may or may not have black spots.
While reports of the pests last year were few, fall 2001 generated a significant number of the bugs. That may be due to population cycles, Novotny said.
While many regard them as an annoyance, Sovik expresses a fondness.
"I enjoy insects," he said. "Out of the millions of insects, only about 6 percent of them are harmful to human beings."
Ladybugs aren't among that 6 percent.