Dear Beth;-
 Absolutely right. It really is only in recent years that the Fall infestation has occured. They mostly invade south facing rooms. They are also on screens---on the outside trying to get in---and on the inside trying to get out.
  We seem to regard them as rather likeable critters, like fireflies---as opposed to wasps, mosquitoes, flies and red ants.
   Art
>
> From: Pete F <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2003/11/03 Mon PM 04:08:06 EST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Q-Man on bugs
>
> Art,
>
> Here in Maine the standard lady beetle used to be your basic red with one
> spot on each half of the carapace (sp?). Now that organic gardening has
> become more popular  people are sending away for lady beetle larvae to
> devour aphids, mites  etc that devastate the flowers and vegetables.  I have
> heard that the species you get when you mail order lady beetles is one from
> England that tends to gather in hordes in the fall and enter houses in an
> effort to find safe winter digs.  Certainly these fall ladybug infestations
> are a recent occurence, within the last 10-15 years. The most effective
> defense I have found so far are tight windows and a dust buster vacuum to
> collect the ones that still find their way inside.
>
> Beth DeHaas
> Whitefield, ME
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:50 AM
> Subject: [CONCH-L] Q-Man on bugs
>
>
> > Is there an entymologist in the house? We are honored each year at this
> time by thousands of Ladybug Beetles. --in the house, south side.
> >   The Q is: they come in many shades. They are red or orange. They have
> few, many, or no black spots at all. Does such coloring indicate speciation?
> I doubt it, but I thought I'd leave it to you experts.
> >    Q-Man
> >
> > PLEASE NOTE: My new, long-term, and correct email address is:
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> >
>

PLEASE NOTE: My new, long-term, and correct email address is: [log in to unmask] Please update your records!