They are usually about 1/4-inch in length and round in shape and have
many colors, but their wings are usually red or orange. The number of spots present will vary or the wings may have no spots at all.
A number of insects have discovered that heated buildings are ideal for surviving the cold of winter. Such pests include ladybugs, box elder bugs and cluster flies. As the weather cools in late summer and early fall, the sun warms the southern and western walls of buildings. The warmth attracts these insects to buildings where they crawl inside cracks and stay there for the winter. This would be fine, but during warm winter days, some insects "wake up" and end up on the inside of the building. Ladybugs are predators of aphids and other plant pests so they may be found on a wide variety of plants outside.
Seal as many cracks and holes on the outside of the home as possible, especially on the south and west walls where the sun heats the home during the late summer and fall and be sure that all foundation and attic vents have tight-fitting screens.
Check the soffit vents and any gable vents or turbine vents on the roof. This treatment should be completed in mid- to late August.
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