Asian Lady Beetle Control in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis) are a widespread nuisance in Southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, particularly during fall as they seek warm places to overwinter. While beneficial in gardens for controlling aphids, their indoor invasions can disrupt homes and businesses. Paffy’s Pest Control offers targeted, eco-friendly solutions to manage these pests effectively, ensuring your property remains comfortable and clean.

Understanding Asian Lady Beetles

Unlike native ladybugs, Asian lady beetles are an invasive species introduced to North America for agricultural pest control. They range from yellow-orange to deep red, typically with 0–19 black spots, and have a distinctive white “M” or “W” marking on their head. In areas like Minneapolis/St. Paul and Alexandria, they swarm homes and commercial buildings in late fall, entering through cracks, vents, or windows to escape cold weather. While they don’t reproduce indoors or cause structural damage, their presence is problematic:

• Nuisance and Mess: They gather in large numbers on walls, ceilings, and windows, leaving behind yellow secretions that stain surfaces and emit a foul odor when disturbed.
• Mild Bites: Though not aggressive, they can pinch skin, causing minor irritation, especially for sensitive individuals.
• Allergy Risks: Their secretions may trigger allergic reactions or asthma in some people, particularly in enclosed spaces like offices or healthcare facilities.
• Overwintering Issues: If they infiltrate wall voids or attics, they re-emerge indoors in spring, creating a cleanup challenge.

Why Removal is Essential

Prompt control of Asian lady beetles is critical for several reasons:

• Protecting Property Aesthetics: Their staining secretions can damage curtains, furniture, and walls, requiring costly cleaning or replacements in homes and businesses.
• Maintaining Comfort: Large swarms create an unpleasant environment, deterring customers in commercial settings like restaurants or retail stores and disrupting daily life at home.
• Health and Safety: In industries such as healthcare or food service, their presence risks contamination and violates health regulations, potentially harming your reputation.
• Preventing Recurrence: Without treatment, beetles return annually, exploiting the same entry points, leading to persistent infestations.

Paffy’s Asian Lady Beetle Treatments

Paffy’s Pest Control employs advanced, environmentally friendly methods to eliminate and prevent Asian lady beetle invasions, tailored to residential and commercial needs in Minnesota and Wisconsin:

• Exterior Barrier Treatment: Our fall exterior treatment targets Asian lady beetles, boxelder bugs, and other invasive pests. We apply a low-toxicity, long-lasting spray from the foundation to the roofline, creating a protective barrier. This treatment kills beetles on contact and provides residual protection, eliminating pests within 8–12 hours of landing on treated surfaces.
• Sealing Entry Points: As part of our integrated pest management, we identify and recommend sealing cracks, gaps, and vents to block beetle entry, reducing future infestations.
• Three-Season Home Service Plan: For residential clients, our preventive plan includes fall treatments to stop beetles before they enter, with free follow-up visits if issues persist between scheduled services.
• Commercial Solutions: For businesses, we offer discreet, customized treatments with flexible scheduling (monthly or quarterly) to minimize disruption while ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.