It is an invasion

By Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (157494)

United States

November 11, 2015 8:06pm CST

We have all talked about how fall is late to get here, and the weather is still warm. You know, of course, that means more bugs and insects and other creepy crawlies are about. We have lady bugs. Did you know some varieties bite? These have not been biting hubby, but they are biting me. It leaves welts. As bad as mosquitoes, or maybe worse. I do not swell up from mosquito bites. Oh, and we have Granddaddy Longlegs spiders. Probably a few other things as well. The cold air has hit tonight. Because of this invasion I am welcoming it with open arms.

15 people like this

16 responses

@jaboUK (64362)

• United Kingdom

12 Nov 15

Like you, I'd sooner have cold weather than insects. I didn't know that ladybirds bite. (That's what we call them in England.)

4 people like this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I think it is only certain varieties, and it seems they only bite certain people. They do not bite my husband.

1 person likes this

@Freelanzer (10745)

• Canada

12 Nov 15

I didn't know ladybugs bite. We are also having a mild fall and I notice the fruit flies are stil hanging around, as well as many baby spiders crawling abound the house.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325385)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Nov 15

Because it never gets really cold here we seem to have spiders and webs throughout the year. It's just the number that varies.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

When you do not have cold to kill them you have a bigger population. Diatomaceous earth can be dusted around and it will eventually kill them but it is not toxic to animals and people. You do not want to breath it though as it irritates the lungs.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Nov 15

The abundance of insect life is the major downside to good weather.

2 people like this

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

14 Nov 15

@GardenGerty At least it will please the bird lovers because they usually migrate late when the weather remains good.

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

And some years they just go on and on. I will sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the ground around the house for pests, but it will not do anything for the lady bugs.

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@much2say (53945)

• Los Angeles, California

12 Nov 15

I don't remember where I read it - but I did hear of some bugs that look like lady bugs but they're not nice as the typical ones! I haven't seen them personally - but we don't see many lady bugs period around here anymore (maybe they don't like our drought!). I know Daddy Longlegs, but not Granddaddy ones! Yep, it's finally getting colder out here too - I won't be missing those buggy critters!

3 people like this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I think it is just a matter of what area you live in as to what you call those spiders. I have heard that if their mouth was not so small they cannot bite they would be the most toxic spider. I have heard the biting lady bugs called Asian lady bugs.

@poehere (15126)

• French Polynesia

12 Nov 15

Try using some mint oil on your skin. This stop all kinds of bugs from biting. If you use apple cider vinegar you can take out the sting and the swelling from the bites.

2 people like this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I rinse my hair with vinegar. Lemon grass repels really well, too. I have not been keeping up with taking b complex vitamins. When I do that they do not bite.

@poehere (15126)

• French Polynesia

14 Nov 15

@GardenGerty Yes I grow lemon grass here and keep it all around the house and garden. It is great for bugs. We have a coconut oil made with lemon grass in it and it works wonders for not being bitten. I use it on the kids when they come along with fresh mint oil I make myself.

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (305561)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

12 Nov 15

I've seen both around my place, though the ladybugs aren't biting. I'm not letting them in the house. I have killed a few spiders in my bathroom though. Temps are starting to go down, but not much yet.

3 people like this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

It has chiled out the last few days and they are fewer. We had so many lady bugs they have been in the house and the cars and just everywhere.

@gabs8513 (48686)

• United Kingdom

12 Nov 15

No GG I didn't know that Ladybirds bite well I have never been bitten by one I have to be honest I have not seen many Insects this Year but again it might have been warm but not warm enough for the Insects to bug

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

This is the first year ever that I have had this happen.

1 person likes this

@katsmeow1213 (28717)

• United States

12 Nov 15

We have been getting a lot of lady bugs too. It's so very odd. I haven't been bitten by any. I know they do bite, I've been bitten in the past. My daughter hates bugs of all kinds, and she is certainly not fond of lady bugs.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I think it has to do with my body chemistry this year. Need to take more vitamins and eat more herbs and spices.

@VinceMcMahon (1073)

• New Zealand

12 Nov 15

I've heard that "Ocimum tenuiflorum" leaf is an extremely effective way in getting rid of mosquitoes. Having this leaf on your home not only keep away mosquitoes from your house but also prevent so many other bugs from entering the house and also act as anti-infections. it has such as great medical benefits. Not sure if you get this leaves easily in your country but it is very affordable and has numerous benefits.

2 people like this

ocimum tenuiflorum

get rid of mosquitoes

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I am not sure what that is called around here. Citrusy plants work like this and some other things as well.

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

Oh, that is Holy Basil. I would like to grow that because it is so good for you inside and out.

@LadyDuck (457412)

• Switzerland

12 Nov 15

Our ladybugs do not bite, I have noticed some in the garden shack, they are coming inside to hibernate.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I have never been bitten before, and I think it is only some varieties.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54189)

• Louisville, Kentucky

12 Nov 15

I didn't know that ladybugs bite. We used to play with them as children and I don't remember ever being bit.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

Only some do, and I never have been before this year.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54189)

• Louisville, Kentucky

15 Nov 15

@GardenGerty Maybe the kind that bite are rarer than the other kind.

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

13 Nov 15

I get welts from spider bites, and blisters from ant bites, fire ants are the worst, those give me hives and scars

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I think I have never come upon fire ants and am lucky not to.

1 person likes this

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

14 Nov 15

@GardenGerty they are wasp mean for ants....and really itchy bites, well for me and hives, I have to take something

@JudyEv (325385)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Nov 15

I think I seem to react more to insect bites as I've gotten older. I didn't know that about ladybirds either.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I have changed my diet and not for the better. I think it makes them bite.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325385)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Nov 15

@GardenGerty Maybe your blood is sweeter than it was

• Sargodha, Pakistan

12 Nov 15

Same here, it is very welcoming in winter when we can use our mobile phone without disturbance of insects which I think love mobile phone screen

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

The light does attract them.

@Juliaacv (48272)

• Canada

12 Nov 15

The ladybugs in our area, the orange ones, pinch, its worse then a bite! And they are difficult to kill.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

Hmm. I get welts from them, so I guess mine are bites but I do not doubt the pinch.

1 person likes this

@Sheilamarie78 (2586)

• Canada

12 Nov 15

I have never heard of biting ladybugs. It probably depends on where you live.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157494)

• United States

14 Nov 15

I have heard it is just one variety. I also think that I am not as good with taking my vitamins as I used to be. Certain things in your blood attract or repel biting insects.