Lady Beetles invade classrooms, residences

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Hundreds of multi-colored Asian Lady Beetles have invaded classrooms and residences throughout campus.

Their presence may prove to be a bit annoying, but biology
professors insist the beetles, which are more commonly referred to as
lady bugs, are more helpful than harmful.

“The beetles are predators and eat other insects that may be
detrimental to indoor and outdoor plants,” said Andrew McNaught,
biology assistant professor. “Lady bugs will not harm humans, thus they
are helpful to us.”

Students have noticed the bugs, calling them an annoyance among other things.

“No one likes bugs crawling all over them and flying around them all
the time,” said Bradley Bissett, Brown City sophomore. “They are just
kind of hard to ignore.”

Aaron Lechner, Lapeer sophomore, said they are a hindrance to his education.

“We were watching a movie in class and the bugs kept flying around
the screen, hundreds of them,” he said. “They were all over the ceiling
and walls; it was just kind of disgusting.”

Unaware of the exact species, biology chairman and associate
professor John Scheide said some of the red and black insects may
indeed bite.

“Lady beetles typically eat aphids – small, plant eating insects –
and other pest insects. This is an introduced species, probably to get
rid of some other pest,” Scheide said. “They are larger than the native
lady and as a surprise to most people that are not ready, they may
bite.”

A university official said he didn’t know of CMU employees introducing the insects on campus.

“I highly doubt” someone brought the beetles to CMU, said Steve
Lawrence, director of plant engineering and planning for Facilities
Management.

Insects such as the ones flying around campus can often be bought at
garden surplus stores to help gardeners fight off unwanted pests.

“When I was a kid – maybe still – one could go to a garden center
and purchase paper bags full of lady bird beetles,” said Jonathon
Kelty, assistant professor of biology. “I have heard a rumor that a
recently imported exotic species of lady bug does bite – my wife swears
she was bitten – but I have no personal experience with such a brute.”

In recent years, an exotic lady bug has invaded the Great Lakes
region from Japan. These bugs are especially abundant in autumn,
seeking shelter for the winter.

“The beetles have been here all along. Now they are just trying to
keep warm and are attracted to warm siding, houses and other warm
areas,” Kelty said. “This behavior makes them more noticeable.”