How to Get Rid of Ladybugs Naturally

Are ladybugs taking over your home and leaving you wondering what to do? These colorful little bugs might seem harmless, but they can quickly become a headache when they show up indoors in large numbers. If you’re looking for safe, eco-friendly ways to deal with them, check out our guide on How to Get Rid of Ladybugs Naturally. Skip the harsh chemicals and try practical, natural methods to keep these bugs away while keeping your home safe for your family. Let’s dive into some easy, natural solutions to take back your space!

Natural Pest Control is all about using eco-friendly ways to keep pests away without relying on harsh chemicals. Simple remedies like peppermint or tea tree oil work as natural repellents thanks to their strong scents. Keeping things clean, sealing up cracks or entry points, and setting up DIY traps with household items are also great strategies.

Ladybugs are very cute mostly, but can be a pain if there seems to be more than one or two in your home. Sometimes they fly around since they are attracting to lights, like most flying insects. Other times they just become a nuisance when you have to clean up their dead little shells day after day.

Entomologists widely prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not classified as true bugs.

Ladybugs are definitely easier than other insects, in the sense that they don’t bite or sting, they don’t burrow in your flours or sugar, and they don’t want to make nests. They just wander around looking for a warm, safe place to exist until spring. In fact, they usually die fairly quickly inside if they don’t have access to water. However, Asian lady beetles look very similar to ladybugs and they can be quite a nuisance if they infest inside your home!

What is the Difference Between Ladybugs and Asian Lady Beetles?

Ladybugs and Asian lady beetles might look alike at first, but there are some key differences between them. Ladybugs are usually round, with bright red shells and evenly spaced black spots. Asian lady beetles, another species of ladybugs, come in a range of colors from orange to red, and their spots are less uniform. One standout feature of Asian lady beetles is the black “M”-shaped mark right behind their heads.

Ladybugs: Your Garden’s Best Friend

Ladybugs, also called ladybirds or lady beetles, are a gardener’s favorite. These beneficial insects feast on aphids, mites, and other plant-damaging pests, helping keep plants healthy. Their classic red or orange shells with black spots make them easy to recognize, and they’re harmless to humans and homes. If you spot ladybugs indoors, it’s important to identify them correctly before doing anything.

If you find a ladybug infestation, don’t kill them since they are super helpful for gardens and farms by eating the plant pests. The best way to get rid of them is to gently collect and release them outside. To keep them from coming in, seal any cracks around windows and doors, and try natural repellents like citrus oils or garlic spray. Regular vacuuming can also help prevent them from settling inside.

Asian Lady Beetles: A Pesky Lookalike

Asian lady beetles might also eat pests like aphids, but they can quickly become a problem, especially in the fall and winter. They tend to enter homes in large groups, looking for warmth and shelter. Unlike ladybugs, the multicolored Asian lady beetle has a defense mechanism that causes them to release a smelly yellow liquid when stressed, which can stain walls and furniture and generally disrupt your living space. For some people, this liquid can even cause allergic reactions like itchy eyes, coughing, or skin rashes. Plus, these beetles are more aggressive and might bite if they feel threatened.

Asian lady beetles were introduced to the United States in the early 1900s to help with pest control, but they’ve since spread everywhere and often end up as uninvited house guests. They can be red, orange, yellow, or even black, with spots that vary in number and pattern. Their behavior and tendency to cause trouble make them different from the friendly ladybug.

Knowing how to tell ladybugs and Asian lady beetles apart can help you manage their presence in your home while still appreciating the important role they play in the ecosystem.

Preventing These Bugs Inside the Home

Ladybugs often sneak into homes through cracks around windows and door frames. At my place, I usually spot them in the bathroom, where it’s warm and humid. To keep them out, weather stripping or clay-based caulking cord around window frames works like a charm. We’ve been using this trick for years, and it hasn’t messed up our paint. For gaps under doors, weather stripping is a great option—it’s better than draft stoppers and even helps lower your energy bills by sealing out cold air in the winter months.

Another easy way to keep ladybugs away is planting mums in the fall. Not only do they make your outdoor spaces look great, but ladybugs can’t stand them—making them a natural barrier near windows and doors. Fun fact: mums are also used in flea powder because of their pest-repelling properties.

To stop ladybugs from coming inside, start by sealing up any entry points. Check windows, doors, and cracks in the walls, and use caulk or weather stripping to close them up. Adding fine mesh screens to windows and vents can be effective ways to give you even more protection. You can also reduce their attraction by turning off outdoor lights at night, since those lights tend to draw insects like ladybugs. Keeping your yard tidy—free of things like leaf piles or wood stacks—can also help. For extra protection, use natural repellents like citronella or bay leaves around common entry spots. With these simple steps, you can keep ladybugs out and enjoy a cozy, bug-free home.

What are the best natural remedies for getting rid of Asian Ladybugs in your home?

Fixing your ladybug issue in your home can be easy with a few natural remedies. You can try essential oils, DIY traps, or even bringing in beneficial bugs to help out. 

Essential oils like peppermint, tea tree oil and citronella oils have strong smells that ladybugs don’t like. Just put a few drops around spots where they’ve been hanging out, like windowsills or entry points to prevent an infestation of ladybugs.

DIY traps are another simple option. For example, fill a bowl with soapy water and leave it near a light at night. The light will draw the asian lady beetles in, and the soapy water will keep them from escaping. You can also mix some apple cider vinegar and dish soap in a shallow dish for another effective trap.

Diatomaceous Earth
This substance is a natural pesticide that you can get on Amazon. Spread some food grade diatomaceous earth in the places where you suspect ladybugs inside or outside the house. This pesticide dehydrates ladybugs and is very effective to get rid of ladybugs and those other pests that need a lot of water such as millipedes, slugs, and sowbugs so it’s great in the basement.

Vacuum Cleaner
Probably the easiest way to get rid of a large pile of ladybugs is with the vacuum. Make sure to empty the vacuum bag after each use or thoroughly clean the canister, as it may smell from the ladybugs.

Alternately, you can do what we talked about when getting rid of stink bugs and take an old pair of pantyhose, slip it onto the end of the vacuum wand, and secure the pantyhose with a rubber band. Vacuum up the ladybugs, then peel off the pantyhose carefully and tie it closed before discarding in outside garbage.

Camphor and Menthol Spray
Here come my beloved essential oils! In the old days, camphor balls were put in wardrobes to keep insects away from clothing made of protein fibers such as wool and silk. Mix some camphor and menthol (peppermint) in a spray bottle with white vinegar and a little water; and spray around the areas where the ladybugs hide and at potential entry points. Since they are sensitive to  strong odor, this natural deterrent will drive them away without killing them.

Citrus Scent
Other smells ladybugs don’t like are citrus and citronella. Citronella is a popularly-used natural insect repellent as it have high vapor toxicity to insects. You can keep many insects away with citronella, and if you don’t like the smell, combine it with citrus for maximum effect. You can spray it, add a few drops in corners, or use a diffuser.

Clove Scent
Place some bags of cloves or sprinkle some clove oil in the areas that are heavily infested by ladybugs. It will make them evacuate the place quickly.

Bay Leaves
Keep small pouches of bay leaves in the infested areas to drive ladybugs out. This is also helpful with getting rid of pantry bugs.

Dealing with a ladybug infestation can be easy and eco-friendly with a few simple, natural tricks. Try sealing up exterior cracks to keep them out, or placing natural repellents like bay leaves or clove oil in problem areas. These methods are a great way to handle the issue without using harsh chemicals, keeping your home clean, comfortable, and safe for both you and the environment.

Ladybugs are very cute mostly, but can be a pain if there seems to be more than one or two in your home. Sometimes they fly around since they are attracting to lights, like most flying insects. Other times they just become a nuisance when you have to clean up their dead little shells day after day.