Ladybugs Swarm In New Jersey

People in New Jersey are starting to report swarms of ladybugs.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle — also called the Halloween lady beetle because of its pumpkin color and tendency to gather in swarms at the end of October — originated in Asia, where they winter in white cliffs. As a result, any white structure can be a lure for large numbers of them to gather at this time of year, Mark Mayer, supervising entomologist with the state Department of Agriculture’s beneficial insect laboratory told NorthJersey.com .

When the weather starts to get colder, ladybugs move from fields looking for places to spend the winter.

A few days ago people in Lincoln, Mass., complained about swarms of ladybugs trying to get into their homes.

A wildlife expert told the Boston Globe that the ladybugs will not nest or reproduce in a house.  They are simply looking for somewhere warm to sleep, like an attic.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has actually raised ladybugs in laboratories and released them into the wild.

In 1998, 78,000 were released to combat hemlock wooly adeligds, minute sap-sucking insects that can kill hemlock trees.

The department says imported ladybug eat only adelgids and will not compete with native ladybugs.