Infestation

Well, maybe not quite an infestation, but there's always the potential for that in our house. Over the past week or so, we've noticed several (let's count here: about nine) ladybugs that have come to our house to spend the winter. You know, they're kind of cute singly. But when they start clumping up...well...there's something a little creepy about that.

Here's what I'm learning about this situation:

Where do ladybugs go in winter? Normal ladybugs would shelter in leaf litter or a similar snug place. But Asian lady beetles are different. They mass up and spend the winter in huge groups. They like to shelter in caves set into cliffs. What's the next best thing? Your house...Worst of all, once indoors, many will die there. And it gets worse. The dead lady beetle bodies are then an open invitation (food source) for carpet beetles and the like to invade your home, too. On the bright side, they don't really bite or chew up your furniture or anything vicious like that. They just want to shelter quietly and not freeze to death.

Ummm...they might be spending the winter inside my wonderful Dyson (remember D-Dawg??) soon.