Ladybugs Swarming in Your Maine Home Could Actually be a Bad Thing

It feels like it should be a weird time for bugs in the house.

Flies don't really count, though. Flies are everywhere, all the time. Those jerks are a year round hassle that you just have to live with. But some bugs feel like they should have their moment in the sun, and then just fade away for the year. On the other hand, I'm no bug scientist, so I don't really know the ins and outs.

One I always get wrong are ladybugs. Maybe it's because there's real ones, and then the strange fake ones... the Asian lady beetles. Are they summer bugs? Are they fall bugs? It doesn't really matter. There's a good chance that some where in your house right now, there's a ladybug or 10 making plans for your house.

There's a dark side to seeing those little red riding bugs around your house.

Ladybugs are bugs that kind of hibernate for winter. They look for a spot to get inside and then pretty much find a comfy little den where they can sleep in until spring. you really don't have anything to worry about though. They're totally harmless and won't damage your home in any way. They're kind of annoying, but no big deal.

On the other hand, and this was something I never even thought of, if ladybugs are getting in your house, are there things that are really bad that could be getting in my house? You gotta figure, if they're getting in then maybe roaches could find their way in. Or spiders. Earwigs... yuck.

Even worse, what if something bigger can get in? Maybe mice? The thing is, seeing ladybugs might just be an indicator that you need to make some changes around the outside of your home to tighten up the exterior and make it less accessible for other critters. A leak usually leads to a broken pipe, so to speak.

What should you do about it?

Obviously, you could call a pro if it's within your means financially. If not, you could look for those leaks we talked about. You could also keep only the firewood you need inside the house in winter. Bugs love to live in the wood, and be brought right inside where it's even warmer.

And one that we're all guilty of way too late in the fall... Take out your AC unit. It's done for the year, and you wouldn't believe how many of nature's little sad-makers can find their way in there. But for real, while ladybugs aren't causing you any harm specifically, it's what else might be finding its way in you should be worried about.

Luckily, ladybugs don't bite. But all of these things will take a chunk out of you...