By Karen Cohen
So many people spend so much time trying to eradicate things, like weeds for instance. In some communities, you must remove weeds from your lawn to “keep up with the Jones.” I know, I know, a lawn full of tall, straggly unknown plants can be regarded as ugly and even a nuisance since some seeds may blow into neighboring yards and multiply.
As we continue as a species to seek ways to eradicate anything we don’t really like or understand or regard as valueless, sometimes decades later we regret it. Some of us believe that everything has purpose under heaven. There was even a rock and roll song about the Byrds in the 60’s.
Let’s chat about weeds and the deadly herbicides we spray on them. Anything sprayed outside does drift onto your skin, enter your orifices, and can end up damaging your health, too, along with the weeds and maybe some insects. We use these poisons to combat ugly weeds and then we find, oops, the frogs are disappearing along with the butterflies.
In 1916 someone somewhere in North America decided they were fed up with aphids on their pecan trees. Aphids can be destructive. The very simple way to remove them is to use a spray bottle filled with water and a bit of dish detergent and blast them with it. Every few days you will need to repeat that for any new bugs appearing or after a rain shower. Instead of that easy and natural method, someone somewhere opted to bring in ladybugs from Asia; they feed on aphids. You know how that story went!
The difference between North American ladybugs vs. Asian lady beetles is hard to differentiate. Look closely, get on the ground and pick one up. The ones from Asia do have one distinct feature. Notice a letter M under the head. Asian lady beetles are an invasive species and not insects; they are beetles. You might not want to know this but according to research, Asian lady beetles are the most invasive beetles on earth. Sad but true. Trying to get rid of one critter sometimes results in an overpopulation of a more destructive critter.
Ladybugs that inhabit our gardens are bright red and have black spots. Asian ladybugs can be red or orange and even spotless. The latter have taken over territory quickly and hence reduced the population of our friendly little ladybugs that we grew up loving.
Along with the stink bug, Asian lady beetles have invaded our homes coming in through cracks in windows, roofs, vent openings and ceilings searching for warmth. Here’s another disheartening fact. If you see them inside your house, they are not coming in from outside. They are already in the walls and emerging into your house. That’s why the windows will also end up with a swarm of them. Creepy.
How to get rid of them? Because beetles have a tough outer shell, they resist swatting. When you do manage to squash them, like stink bugs, they emit an odor and a liquid which stains. I have read that white vinegar or citronella in a water spray bottle will kill them. I also read that lady beetles draw in carpenter ants. Oh boy, another invasive intruder.
Birds love eating insects and beetles. Bring a flock of birds inside maybe? Not practical and birds poop all over. The solution is “blowing in the wind;” that’s another way Bob Dylan explained, no one knows the answer! It is impossible to seal up every little crack in a home. We built a new home and within two years, lady beetles were inside.
So, the battle to control continues. Predators are around every corner. We humans qualify as such, too. If we chop off a finger, one does not grow back. We just end up with one less.
(Karen Cohen is a natural, organic gardener, photojournalist, and avid explorer. Email your tips and comments to natureswaykaren@gmail.com)
