Ladybug racism? I think Not,how about you?

Question

I know my ladybugs. I once spent an entire concert staring at one. Or so I'm told.

Transplanted from Asia, to control the pests of our provinces farms Now they have become pests.http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef416.asp

Same thing with the lovely weed, Purple Strife. Imported to beautify the roadsides of Ontario.
Now they are trying to rid the farm crops of this crazy wild spreading weed.

Answer 1

I really don't understand the question, but we have an issue with ladybugs. Every fall and spring I deal with them. Once a frost threatens they invade my house until it gets too cold outside to fly. They crawl in, from every nook and cranny and swarm (yes swarm) all inside my house, until they find the attic, or they hide in the crevices on the wood paneling. They are in my laundry, dishes, underwear, sheets, in my pots and pans, in my car, in my hair. And they stink. My house stinks like ladybugs. I have burnt a motor in my vacuum sucking up the little buggers. I generally let them be, because I know it will all be over in about 4 weeks. But in the meantime, I am picking ladybugs out of places you can only imagine.
I am all for the enviroment but I think we have enough ladybugs to go around. I have called the DEP about them, I called exterminators, since they don't sting or bite (ha) they don't consider them pests. I beg to differ. My mom never believed me that I had a problem until I gave her a dish back and it had ladybugs in it. She called me up laughing her head off. I on the other hand wasn't laughing.

Answer 2

There are several examples of this, one I'm aware of is during the colonization of N.America, some birds were brought over to beautify part of New York. They killed the local bird predators and took over.

Dandelions aren't indigenous here either.

Frankly, people should have control over their own property. Let the cycle sort it all out after that. If we mess it up too bad, we're doomed, but we all fall short anyway, right?

Answer 3

In England they are freaking out about the invasion of the Harlequin Ladybug/bird no kidding! And have been told to catch them and send them to a Lab who are collecting them for something to do. I think they are just upset because they are foreign. I however don't care, things have a purpose even if they excrete smelly liquid we all have to protect ourselves with something.
I don't like them much they taste horrible and make me gag, but I do enjoy a nice crispy pill beetle.

Answer 4

Yep, the Asian lady bug is one of those unfortunate mistakes. I'm guessing someone was under the impression that the Asian lady bug was exactly like it's European cousin only to find out that they are home invaders, European lady bug killers, and they bite to boot. I've experienced the home invasion first hand in the winter of '94. ( I actually remember the year and it's weird) They took over my bathroom and left their nasty yellowness everywhere which made the room smell of dirty gym shoes. I found the vacuum hose attachment very helpful that season. Anyhow, looks like we're stuck with them. At least they still eat aphids.

Answer 5

It just shows what can happen if you imprudently tinker with mother nature. It can be done, but it has to be done carefully, with due consideration for fitting a species into the existing ecosystem and food chain, lest things get out of balance, and a helpful species become an invasive one.