We have been invaded by “Ladybugs.” We used to think that ladybugs were so cute and adorable. Both my daughters have had several different types of ladybug clothing. But several years ago we changed our tune with ladybugs. Now in the Fall we are invaded by Ladybugs regularly. One day we might see one or two and we will start to complain. Why? Because we have learned that within a day or two we will be invaded by thousands. They come in every door and window, even if closed. There is no keeping them out. They will be banging into every light fixture making constant noise with their hard bodies hitting the light. Our sliding glass doors will be covered inside and out. Not only do the ladybugs get all over the house, they will just fall into everything. Cooking and eating become a hassle. You learn to check your drink before drinking it.
We spent all day yesterday cleaning up. I cleaned the windowsills of ladybugs in the morning and by lunchtime they were all over the sills again. My daughter vacuumed the live ladybugs from the sliding glass doors. The clear vacuum canister was full of ladybugs but by the evening, they were replaced by more. When looking outside you could clearly see the swarms of ladybugs flying all over the place. If you ventured outside you would be dive-bombed by kamikaze ladybugs flying into you. The ladybugs also come with a surprising bonus – THEY STINK !!! For some bizarre reason they emit a horrible odor if you kill them or even if they fill threatened. My daughter said her school work actually referred to them as the skunk of the insect world.
I think I have an idea of what the Egyptians felt like in Exodus.
Exodus 8:16-24
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'"
17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.
18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast.
19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
20 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.
21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.
22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen."'"
24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. ESV
But then again maybe not.
Gnats and flies bite.
Thankfully, the ladybugs at least don’t bite!
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9 comments:
Yuck! I don't envy you.
I've seen one or two in my garden, but not swarms like you have.
Hope it passes soon.
We had the same problem in fact I told a man at LSU that I think we were going to kill the whole population of them. Every year they came back. We just started spraying the house as soon as they started coming and it took a few years. When they start coming--they keep coming.
Dora,
My grandmother had always taught me that ladybugs were valuable in the garden because they ate aphids. But then she never had these!
But actually while they look like ladybugs, they really are Japanese Lady Beetles introduced by man to here just like the lovely Kudzu we have. :(
Julie,
We haven't tried spraying but it is an idea. That could get expensive. You are right that they keep coming there are seven in the kitchen light fixture even after all the work we did yesterday. :( Will have to do it all over again, and again, and again....
Did the spraying really help even if neighbors aren't spraying?
Berean Wife
BW, Don't you just hate them?! We haven't had them as badly as some others, (or you, it would seem), but I hate them just the same. At least it is not as bad as the situation in a documentary I saw years ago, which took place in Australia, I believe. They had a plague of mice. There were live, swarming, and dead mice everywhere. Running over them in their beds at night, eating their grain, in every part of their home. The scene that remains in my memory to this day was of the baby in the highchair gnawing on a dead mouse (how this mother could videotape this scene without losing her mind, I don't know.) Let us be grateful for ladybugs.
Wendy
(Perhaps you will want to delete this comment, and I will understand :)
I can honestly say that I have never heard of a ladybug invasion.
Doesn't sound like much fun. And it does damage one's image of the lady bug as a cute little thing.
Did you send them to Guntersville? We have been covered up with them today. Samuel (who wants a WASP for a pet) does not want to use our front door because of the ladybugs.
I like kudzu. I think it is pretty.
Wendy,
I must admit that is really, really gross! I can't imagine.
Every fall we get some field mice trying to set up residence in the house. They don't get away with it though because I launch an all out attack. One of the extra's to being on a farm with hayfields beside us. :(
I'm afraid grateful for ladybugs hasn't developed today.
Berean Wife
Terry,
It isn't much fun. When we got home this afternoon, we had them all over the house. My daughter thankfully vacuumed the sliding glass doors and the den without any prompting. I had to vacuum the kitchen ceiling, lights and windows prior to preparing supper.
Augh!!!!
I'm afraid it is just a matter of time before they start swarming all over the country according to some things I've read in how they have spread over the last few years.
Berean Wife
Kelli,
Nope but if I could I'd send them somewhere else.
My youngest daughter, the first year we had ladybugs, thought they were so cute. I think she was three. She had pet ladybugs in containers. She thought it was so nice because they would just crawl on her finger. Needless to say, she has outgrown that stage since she gets to help clean them up.
Kudzu!?! It takes over everything even huge trees. But when things get really, really, really, bad in the economy, I might have to start cooking kudzu; salads, jelly, fried, etc., but not until things get that bad. :)
Berean Wife
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