Minnesota's Most Annoying Insect Will Be Returning, Prepare Now

Someone brought it up on social media this morning, and it stuck with me. It's still pretty dark at 5am, which tells me that summer is waning and fall will be here before we know it. With the fall season looming, so too does a return for one of Minnesota's most annoying insects, the Asian Beetle. Here are some things you can do now to prepare for the bugs and to keep them out of your home hopefully.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension office online: "The multicolored Asian lady beetle has become a nuisance in Minnesota, and control measures should only be used to prevent entry of Asian lady beetles indoors."

So what can you do now to keep the beetles out of your home? A lot of the advice from the University of Minnesota Extension Office is common sense, but having a plan to in place now for the work, you will need to do to try and keep these flying pests out is what you should be concentrating on. Here are some suggested repairs you should make by the end of September to be the most effective against the beetles.

Check the outside of your home for spaces and cracks that may allow insects easy entry.
Lady beetles can fit through openings as small as 1/8 inch in size.
Make any necessary repairs by the end of September.
Seal cracks and spaces around doors, windows, and fascia boards. Check for gaps and cracks where different materials meet, such as brick and wood siding. Seal cracks with caulk, such as silicone, elastomeric latex, or silicone/acrylic.
Seal areas where cable TV wires, phone lines, and other utility wires and pipes, outdoor facets, dryer vents, and similar objects enter buildings.
Seal with caulk or, for larger spaces, use polyurethane expandable spray foam, steel wool, copper mesh, or another appropriate sealant.
Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
Repair or replace damaged screens in roof and soffit vents, and in bathroom and kitchen fans.
Install door sweeps or thresholds to all exterior entry doors. Install a rubber seal along the bottom of the garage doors.

Why would anyone want these beetles in their lawn/garden? The U of M Extension Office online had this answer to why people would want the beetles around.

"Multicolored Asian lady beetle and other lady beetle species feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that can damage plants in agricultural crops, gardens, and landscapes. These bugs are beneficial insects to farmers and gardeners."

Keep those annoying flying bugs out this winter!