Among Friends

[CelticCrafter]

They aren't ladybugs, they're beetles.  Different color and spot parrern.

[cindyNC]

@monicakm Ow!  Did the bites swell or leave marks? I've seen them around our area in NC

[JeanLouiseFinch]

We live in a somewhat rural community.  We live in a subdivision but we also have farms around the region.  I have great appreciation and respect for our American farmers but we have our local farmers to thank for the annual return of Asian Lady Beetles.  We never had them until they decided to get them to help with other bugs that attacked their crops.  Then the lady beetles migrated.  🐞  Now we just deal with them, vacuuming them up when they get in the house.  We empty the canister into a bag and stick it in the outside garbage 🗑️

[SilleeMee]

[monicakm]

No @cindyNC it didn't cause any swelling, just a small "dot" that was probably only visible because I was looking for whatever bit me.  More than anything, I was surprised.  Just another sign that I'm not meant for the outdoors.  

[RespectLife]

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@bikerbabe wrote:
An Asian lady BEETLE is not a ladybug even though it looks similar. The Asian beetle is considered a pest - I believe primarily due to their invasive nature.

The ladybug is beneficial.

Ladybugs do not bite. Asian beetles can bite and stink.

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And they can decimate your plants like the plague!  They ain't NO ladies!

Last summer, they wiped out every lily I had.

[Sapphiregal]

We've been lucky as I've only seen a few of them, but, a friend of mine had an invasion of hundreds of them in her garage. They seemed to like the color of her car.😆