The invaders are incredibly insects. Asian lady beetles have a hyperactive immune system, which could be what’s protecting them from succumbing to the spores in their blood. Unstoppable And these conquerors aren’t just a problem for other insects. Every winter, Asian lady beetles gather by the thousands to weather the cold temperatures inside any cave-like dwelling they can find—including houses. Vogel’s own mother walked outside four years ago to find thousands of the pests attached to the side of her house, attempting to force their way in. trying to sneak into crevices,” Vogel said. can’t open a window anymore or you’ll have “They’re “You thousands inside.” The Asian lady beetles en mass have been known to cause health issues for people prone to asthma. They also give off a horrible smell when they sense danger as a deterrent against predators. One smelly beetle is nothing more than an annoyance, but if you have thousands of them, the stench can be a big problem, Vogel said. Any efforts to eradicate the beetle, also feasts on agricultural crops like grapes and apples, are likely a waste of resources, the biologist added. The bugs are just too resilient to control. don’t think we can do a lot against [the Asian lady beetles],” Vogel said. so successful, and “I “They’re they’re spreading so fast. There’s no stopping them.” From: @NatGeo ASSOCIATED ---- Invasive Asian lady beetles contain tiny parasites that kill native ladybugs: (84 retweets) Invasive ladybirds wage 'biological war' on natives By Matt McGrath 16 May 2013 The Asian Ladybird or harlequin has overpowered native species across Europe. German researchers have discovered the biological keys to the success of an invasive species, wreaking havoc across Europe and the US.
The invaders are incredibly insects. Asian lady beetles have a hyperactive immune system, which could be what’s protecting them from succumbing to the spores in their blood. Unstoppable And these conquerors aren’t just a problem for other insects. Every winter, Asian lady beetles gather by the thousands to weather the cold temperatures inside any cave-like dwelling they can find—including houses. Vogel’s own mother walked outside four years ago to find thousands of the pests attached to the side of her house, attempting to force their way in. “They’re trying to sneak into crevices,” Vogel said. “You can’t open a window anymore or you’ll have thousands inside.” The Asian lady beetles en mass have been known to cause health issues for people prone to asthma. They also give off a horrible smell when they sense danger as a deterrent against predators. One smelly beetle is nothing more than an annoyance, but if you have thousands of them, the stench can be a big problem, Vogel said. Any efforts to eradicate the beetle, also feasts on agricultural crops like grapes and apples, are likely a waste of resources, the biologist added. The bugs are just too resilient to control. “I don’t think we can do a lot against [the Asian lady beetles],” Vogel said. “They’re so successful, and they’re spreading so fast. There’s no stopping them.” From: ASSOCIATED @NatGeo ---- Invasive Asian lady beetles contain tiny parasites that kill native ladybugs: (84 retweets) Invasive ladybirds wage 'biological war' on natives By Matt McGrath 16 May 2013 The Asian Ladybird or harlequin has overpowered native species across Europe. German researchers have discovered the biological keys to the success of an invasive species, wreaking havoc across Europe and the US.