How to Get Rid of Ladybugs Naturally

Look around online for tips on how to get rid of ladybugs and you're likely to find comments on how beneficial and cute these little critters are and how you shouldn't be trying to get rid of them. Well, people who say this have probably never lived in an area where, about once a year, flocks of ladybugs swarm around the windows and come crawling into the house through every tiny crack and keyhole they can. Yes, sometimes you really do need to get rid of ladybugs. That said, they are beneficial garden insects, so the few killed, the better.

Misconceptions about how to get rid of ladybugs
You may have heard that the best way to keep ladybugs out of your home is to caulk or tape any crevices where they might get in. Even major home and garden Web sites suggest this. Experience, however, shows that trying to plug any potential entry points doesn't seem to work. That's because these bugs are able to flatten themselves out and crawl through crevices you might not even see. Another misguided bit of wisdom says that, because ladybugs are attracted to light colors, covering up any light colors on the outside of your home will keep the ladybugs at bay. Here again, it seems like that would just be a waste of effort. People with dark colored homes also report ladybug infestations.

Vacuum them up
This is the most common way to take care of a bunch of ladybugs in the house. It no doubt shocks the bugs a bit, but it doesn't hurt them. Just use the tube attachment on your vacuum or a hand-held shop vac and suck the bugs up. If you prefer not to leave them in the bag (beware, they'll crawl out), make sure you have a new bag in the vacuum, go and vacuum up the ladybugs, then take your bag, with a cloth stuffed in the opening, to an open field or wooded area. Cut the bag open and let the bugs out. Alternatively you can, believe it or not, store your bag of ladybugs in the freezer until spring, when you can thaw them out and release them into the garden. You might just be able to sell them on eBay, too.

Burn lemon scented candles
Like mosquitos and gnats, ladybugs seem to dislike the smell of lemon. Burn three or four lemon candles in each room where you have a ladybug problem and it should at least cut down on the number of ladybugs coming in. Unfortunately, it doesn't always get rid of ladybugs that are already in the house.

Clean with Ammonia
And like most people, ladybugs don't care much for the smell of ammonia, either. Use a rag soaked in amonia to wipe down your doors, windows, and any other surface where you see ladybugs gathering.

Harbor them
Ladybugs come into your home because they're looking for a cozy place to hibernate. When the temperature drops, they'll just quietly wait out the winter as opposed to nibbling your clothes or walls like some other insects do. Because of this, you can collect the ladybugs in a box and move the box to a chilly place like the garage until spring. Just set out a cardboard or plastic box with a bowl of chopped up pears or apples inside. The fruit should attract most of the ladybugs into the box where they'll stay in hopes of overwintering there. You may have to hand-pick some of them, but use gloves because ladybugs release an acrid fluid that not only smells bad, but could harm you if you happen to rub your nose or eyes.

Diatomaceous earth
This is another preventative method that, while natural, will end up killing the ladybugs. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the foundation of your house and it should cut down on the ladybug population. If you use diatomaceous earth, take care not to breath it in because it can cause lung damage.

If you're frustrated by the dozens of ladybugs flying around your house, know that there are some things you can do to get rid of ladybugs. Even better, you can do it without killing these beneficial insects. To avoid using harmful chemicals around your children and pets, it's better to try natural solutions first. If, however, you really become overwhelmed with the bugs or start having asthma-like symptoms (some people are allergic to ladybugs) and want to get rid of those ladybugs anyway you can, many commercial bug sprays and bombs will do the trick.