Behavior of Lady Beetles
Multicolored Asian lady beetles, Harmonia axyridis, are important as a natural control of many kinds of aphid pests on a wide range of plants. They are especially useful for control of aphids on most trees. For this reason they are especially abundant in and around heavily wooded areas such as fruit and nut orchards, parks and forests.
In middle Georgia, around November 1, adult multicolored lady beetles begin migration flights whereby they seek protected places to spend the winter. They are particularly attracted to light-colored structures with sunny southwestern exposures. For this reason they often aggregate in large numbers on the sides of houses, barns and other buildings. They then crawl on the side of buildings seeking an entrance to a place protected from winter weather. Entrances are often found beneath facing boards around windows and doors, cracks between siding, unscreened vents and louvers, faculty weather strips beneath doors, and cracks associated with roof flashing and overhang. From these entrances they gain access to attics, basements, walls, and even chimneys. If there is no heating system in the building, the beetles usually settle into large clusters where they remain until spring approaches in February or March. In buildings where temperatures are comfortable for human habitation, especially on days that are unseasonably warm, many beetles become active and work their way into the interior of the building where they become a serious nuisance. They usually fly about or crawl around, ending-up at windows while trying to escape. These eventually die from exhaustion on the inner window sills of the building.
Instructions for Trap Use
H and T Alternative Controls has developed two traps for removing active lady beetles from buildings; the H&T 120 and the H&T 360. The H&T 120 is best used by placing the trap in a corner or along-side a wall so that the attracting blacklight radiates outward toward the center of the room. The H&T 360 is most effective when placed near the center of the room. Both traps are effective only at night in the absence of competing light sources, but can be used during daytime if the room is completely dark and unlighted by windows or other light sources. Temperature in the room must be a minimum of 68 degrees, but the trap is most effective if the room temperature is 75 degrees fahrenheit or higher. The traps may be more effective when placed on a table, but they can be used sitting on the floor of the room.
H&T beetle traps are supplied with talcum powder which must be literally used to coat the surface of the metal baffle in back of the blacklight lamp, the suspended metal shield located beneath the lamp, and the interior walls and bottoms of the plastic collecting containers. This prevents attracted beetles from clinging to the trap surfaces and they then fall into the upper collecting container and eventually become trapped in the lower container. Once they enter the trap, they cannot escape if talcum powder is used. Avoid Coating the blacklight lamp with talcum.
H&T traps are not designed to kill lady beetles but rather to collect them for removal from the building. To remove beetles from the trap, simple brush any beetles into the lower container, separate the upper container and lamp from the lower container and discard the contents of the lower container by pouring them into a plastic bag.
The H&T 120 and 360 are designed for use only on the inside of buildings or beneath a covered porch. They are not designed for use out of doors.
For more information, or to purchase traps contact:
H&T Alternative Controls, LLC
606 Ball Street
Perry, Georgia 31069
Phone: 478-988-9412
Fax: 478-988-9413
