How to Safeguard Your Home From Annual Asian Lady Beetle Invasions

Autumn means falling leaves Pumpkin spice latteand Picking apples. And while we’re outside enjoying the cold weather, Asian lady beetles(known as beetles), scramble indoors to keep warm. But there are simple ways to protect your home, according to Good housekeepingWhich highlighted tips from two pest control companies Orkin and University of Minnesota.

1. What are Asian lady beetles?
2. Seal your home to prevent Asian beetles from entering.
3. Pay attention to your windows and doors.
4. Wait for an Asian lady beetle invasion.

What are Asian lady beetles?

Asian beetles, or Harmonia axyridesare not native to the United States but their numbers have exploded throughout the South, East Coast and Midwest, and households across the country are now bombarded annually by the tiny, spotted insects in the fall. They prefer the comfort of our homes to the great outdoors, and have been known to congregate in and around light-colored buildings, seemingly by the dozens (if not hundreds). Some prefer to relax in quiet places, such as the attic, and then reappear on warm winter days or in the spring.

In addition to being unwelcome guests in the home, Asian beetles secrete a foul and bitter odor, especially if crushed, and can stain light-colored surfaces with a yellowish liquid they secrete from their legs. The good news? Asian beetles are relatively harmless, although they bite and some people may be allergic to them.

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Seal your home to prevent Asian beetles from entering.

The secret is prevention. Seal all cracks and crevices in your home with caulking and other materials, as Asian beetles typically wriggle their way inside through these small openings. (Keep a close eye on sections of the house where two different building materials meet, such as brick and wood siding.) Also pay attention to cable TV wires, phone lines, and other wires and pipes that pass through undersized openings.

Pay attention to your windows and doors.

Repair or replace damaged windows and screens as well. As a last precaution, install door stops or thresholds for all exterior doors, and line the bottom of your garage door with a rubber seal. And if you’re not averse to chemicals, consider pre-treating your home’s exterior doors, windows, and rooflines with pesticides. (Do not use these products indoors, as they will not prevent insect entry.)

Wait for an Asian lady beetle invasion.

If Asian beetles have somehow made their way into your home, the only thing you can really do is either vacuum them (changing the bag regularly to avoid a lingering stench), use light insect traps in dark places, or simply wait. Come spring, they’ll be playing in your backyard instead of on your living room roof.

A version of this story was originally published in 2017; Updated for 2025.