Has anyone had ladybirds coming onto the house?

[dancerdog]

Since Friday, we have had several ladybirds in the house. I have now read that that this is happening as a lot are coming indoors due to weather conditions. I've never even seen a ladybird in the garden before.

I understand that they are not dangerous but finding one walking towards me on the couch has just freaked me out.

What I've not been able to find yet is whether they then go dormant, and when they wake up. Also. if that will mean they are flying about the house when they do!

(I have read a de-bunk of the Sun newspaper headline about STD-infected ladybirds - apparently they do not infect humans.)

Is anyone else experiencing this? Could the small number I have seen indoors indicate that there is a huge amount of them hidden somewhere?

I’ve not had them in my house, but I did read that there had been a big increase in ladybird numbers recently due to mild weather and more invasive species flying in from the south.

I can’t stand them, toxic-looking little heckers.

We’ve got loads. As well as masses of flies and wasps. It was the same last year. Annoying as can’t open the windows on this lovely day.

weird for this late in the season.

@mellongoose that sounds horrible. Do the ladybirds fly about? Do they make a nest together? Or do they keep wandering around?
Do they ever leave??

I'm in the West of Scotland. where are you?

Yes, loads. And they cling ti washing on the line. I have to pick or flick dozens and dozens of them off before I can bring the washing in. And I still
misss some

Same here, OP. Same part of the world too. It's been happening for the last few years. A lot of them end up squished in our house. Maybe we're just clumsy! I saw 3 different types the other day.

Loads! West central Scotland and every time I bring in a load of washing from the whirligig I find at least one in the house afterwards. I have voiles in one room and keep finding them stuck to those too. They are not the cute traditional ones either, but the darker colour ones with more spots, harlequin I think they are called.

My house has light coloured render, on a sunny day they gather in huge numbers on the west-facing wall, and they’ll find a way indoors for the winter (where they will keep still, sleeping until spring).

In a few months time, I’ll be picking dozens of ladybirds off the west-facing window frames and curtains and popping them outside.

They CAN nip, but I’ve only ever been nipped by a busy, wide-awake ladybird in the garden, never by a sleepy one in the house.

ETA I have full length pencil-pleated voile curtains at my large west-facing bedroom window, they tuck themselves into the pleats.

Every year. They hibernate in the south-facing rooms, then fly off in the spring. I just leave them to it.

Was covered in them while walking in the woods on Friday, hundreds of them !!

In my bathroom, inside the window.

I line dried my bedding yesterday and when I took it upstairs a ladybird landed on the bed. It's now on my bedroom ceiling.

A few usually snuggle themselves in my house over winter and pop up in early spring. They don't bother me.
I'm happy to have spiders too.

My daughter’s bathroom window gets covered in them, no other window, irs very odd. It’s rhe one insect in the house that doesn’t remotely bother me,

We had loads on the washing that I pegged out today. South wales

I lived in one house that attracted ladybirds for some reason. There'd be dozens of them around the windows that faced the garden.

They never flew around and caused no bother. I let them be.

@LadyChilli I was wondering about the washing - I took advantage of the grand drying weather today, and put my lovely bedding out - too scared to bring it in in the dark!

So, for the replies, I can't really do much abut this then, can I?

There was one on my bed tonight.
I really get very upset with spiders, but am trying to keep calm about the ladybirds.

Also similar area and lots of them on one south facing upvc door. Also the black with red spots kind. Interesting! I’m not bothered at all, beyond trying to make sure I don’t crush any of them in the door frame when I let the dog in and out…

Some of these comments are strange to me. When I was brought up in the 70s ladybirds were seen as our friends and we said a poem before removing them from the house. I’m terrified of all spiders and insects apart from ladybirds. Am I the only one brought up this way?

Not in the house, but I spotted two of the black with red spots type in a pub yesterday afternoon. Different part of the country to you op, although we're in the West

I remember playground rumours that ladybirds with certain numbers of spots were insanely venemous and so you should never touch one.

Ladybirds look to find somewhere sheltered to over winter. They attract other ladybirds by scent. They're harmless but apparently the smell can be a bit unpleasant if you have a large colony.

That’s so interesting. I’ve never heard that. I hope it’s not true as they’re the only creature I’ve ever been happy touching.

It's not true at all. 😀They can release some gross substance (a bit like a skunk) if they feel threatened, but that's rare and it isn't harmful anyway.

We've had them over winter for the last few years. We have high Victorian ceilings and ornate plaster moulding. They congregate in the centre ceiling rose and every so often one drops off and lands on the sofa. They just sort of bumble about, think they are pretty harmless. Mind you, I don't worry about spiders either!