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Asian Lady Beetles in Iowa Homes

Updated · By Kasey, Waukee, Iowa

If orange, spotted beetles are piling up on the sunny side of your Clive home this fall, you are seeing one of Iowa's best-known autumn nuisances. Homeowners in Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee and across central Iowa deal with the same thing: multicolored Asian lady beetles gathering on walls and wandering indoors for the winter.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension says this beetle has become common throughout the United States and all of Iowa. It is a helpful insect outdoors in summer, but it can be a severe household nuisance during late fall and winter. This guide covers how to identify it, why it shows up, what you can do yourself and when to call a licensed pest professional.

What it is and how to identify it

ISU describes the multicolored Asian lady beetle as about 1/3 inch long and dome-shaped, yellowish-orange to red with variable black spots on the back. Deep orange is the most common color. It can have up to 19 black spots, but they may be faint or missing, so counting spots is not a reliable test.

The best way to identify it, according to ISU, is the black "W" shaped mark just behind the head. If you see that mark, you are almost certainly looking at an Asian lady beetle rather than a native ladybug.

A few facts that surprise people:

Look-alikes in the same season. Boxelder bugs show up at the same time of year. ISU describes those as black and red, about 1/2 inch long and flatter, with no "W" mark. See our boxelder bug guide if that sounds more like what you have. If you still cannot tell, the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic identifies insects for Iowans. Check its website for current forms, options and fees.

Is it harmful?

ISU groups the Asian lady beetle with other "accidental invaders": outdoor insects that create a nuisance by wandering indoors for a short part of their life. According to ISU, they:

The real annoyances are smaller: ISU says lady beetles may leave a slimy smear and have a distinct odor when squashed. ISU's fall invader article also notes that accidental invaders in general can sometimes stain fabrics, give off foul odors or trigger allergies. If you have health concerns about insects in your home, talk with a healthcare provider.

Why it shows up (season and local angle)

When getting ready to spend the winter, Asian lady beetles follow their instinct and fly to sunny, exposed surfaces. ISU says the flight usually runs from mid-September through October, depending on the weather, and its 2019 update describes the beetle becoming a household pest in mid-to-late October.

Some homes get far more beetles than others. ISU says light colored buildings and walls in full sun appear to attract the most beetles, and wooded residential areas are especially prone to problems. A light-sided house backing up to trees in Clive or along a greenbelt in Urbandale may see many more than a home a few streets away.

From those sunny walls, beetles find their way into cracks and gaps. Some end up in wall voids and attics, then emerge inside during winter as the house warms them up. A December windowsill beetle got in back in the fall.

What you can do yourself

Seal entry points before they arrive

ISU says sealing exterior gaps and cracks around windows, doors, eaves, roofs and siding before the beetles appear can prevent entry. ISU's fall invader articles add these pest-proofing steps:

ISU is candid that full pest-proofing is time-consuming, often impractical and usually not 100% effective. It is still worth doing, and the same sealing helps keep out fall mice. See our guide to mice in Iowa homes this fall.

Outdoor sprays: only for large problems, and timing matters

For large infestations with intolerable numbers of beetles, ISU says spraying a pyrethroid insecticide on the outside of the building when the beetles appear may help prevent entry. ISU notes that homeowner insecticides other than pyrethroids usually do not give satisfactory prevention.

Timing and placement tips from ISU's fall invader articles:

Always read and follow the pesticide label. The U.S. EPA notes that every pesticide label says it is a violation of federal law to use the product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. We do not recommend specific brands.

Beetles already inside

ISU says the most practical control for beetles already inside is to vacuum or sweep them up and discard them. Indoor sprays are of very limited benefit, and ISU says spraying has little or no effect on beetles coming out of walls in winter.

If repeated vacuuming is not practical, ISU describes indoor light traps as an option. They use a light to draw beetles at night and funnel them into a container so you can remove them. ISU says black light bulbs work best, though incandescent bulbs also work.

Long-term fix

ISU suggests that long-term relief may come from planting trees that will grow to shade the south and west sides of the house, since the beetles are drawn to sunny walls.

When to call a licensed pro

A professional can make sense when:

How to choose a licensed Iowa applicator

Under Iowa's administrative rules, anyone in the business of applying pesticides to another person's property must be licensed and certified by the state. Household pest work is Category 7A, General and Household Pest Control. Before you hire:

  1. Ask for the company's Iowa license and the technician's certification.
  2. Verify both in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship lookup.
  3. Ask whether the plan includes sealing entry points, not just spraying, and when they plan to treat.

See our guide to choosing a pest pro for more questions to ask.

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Frequently asked questions

Are Asian lady beetles the same as ladybugs?

Yes. ISU Extension says "ladybug" and "lady beetle" mean the same thing. The multicolored Asian lady beetle is one of roughly 500 lady beetle species in North America, and you can recognize it by the black "W" shaped mark behind the head.

Do Asian lady beetles bite?

ISU says they do not feed on people, but they infrequently pinch exposed skin. They cannot sting and do not carry diseases.

Will Asian lady beetles lay eggs in my house?

No. ISU says they do not feed or reproduce indoors. Beetles you see in winter came in during the fall and are coming out of walls or attics as the house warms them.

Why does my house get so many more than my neighbor's?

ISU says light colored buildings and walls in full sun attract the most beetles, and wooded residential areas are especially prone to problems.

What is the best way to get rid of them inside?

ISU says repeated vacuuming or sweeping is the most practical option, since indoor sprays have very limited benefit. Indoor light traps are an alternative for collecting them.

Nearby towns we cover

Related guides

Sources

  1. Ladybug - Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-22)
  2. Fall Nuisance Invaders Are On the Move - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-22)
  3. It is Accidental Invader Season Again - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-22)
  4. Submitting an insect for identification - ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (checked 2026-10-22)
  5. Introduction to Pesticide Labels - U.S. EPA (checked 2026-10-22)
  6. Iowa Admin. Code r. 21-45.22, License and certification standards for pesticide applicators (checked 2026-10-22)
  7. Pesticide applicator and company license lookup - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-22)

We link to the original sources so you can read them yourself. Product names are not endorsements.