Ladybug, Ladybug fly away home... it has been said that everybody likes ladybugs (ha!) and many people think that they are good luck (double ha!).

A couple of years ago we were invaded by an army of ferocious ladybugs.

We stayed at an RV resort in California’s Delta. The park was surrounded by agricultural land and the farmers there had just completed the harvest of their cornfields. We were with a group from the RV Club Online and we all spent a lot of time sitting outside in the beautiful fall weather chatting with one another... and being eaten alive by ladybugs!!

I found out that, because they love to eat aphids, ladybugs are imported by farmers to help them by keeping their cornfields aphid-free. But, alas, the fields had been cleared and the ladybugs were out looking for a new fast food outlet.

These particular ladybugs were bigger than, and not as red as, others I have encountered. They accumulated in bunches in sunlight on the trunks of trees around our rigs. They also landed on and bit people who were wearing light colored clothes and any people who were sitting in the sun rather than the shady areas. And they got into our houses and traveled with us. Almost two years later I found one when I was moving some files around. It was still alive... yes, I said ‘was’.

The appearance of this ladybug prompted me to look them up on the internet. I learned that they eat up to 5000 aphids in a lifetime and that they can play dead when they feel threatened. Ladybugs are not ladylike when intimidated. They secrete a substance that smells and tastes terrible but protects them from predators.

Ladybugs come in hundreds of varieties, can live up to three years, hibernate, and they chew from side to side, not up and down like most beetles do. If you are interested in knowing more about ladybugs check out these websites:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/5924/ladybugfacts.htm

www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ entfacts/fldcrops/ef105.htm

As cooler weather is moves in on us, many pests will move in also. Now that you know all about Ladybugs here are some tips suggested by a RVers’ email list about how to get rid of the little buggers such as ladybugs, ants and other stowaways you may collect along the way.

Ida suggested dryer sheets.

“The smell keeps them away. They don’t even come in so I never have a problem with any bugs,” says Ida. She tucks them about here and there where she suspects invaders might attempt entry.

Frankie says: “A better way to control bugs, ants and other irritating flying, crawling thingies is to buy a box of 20 Mule Team Borax.
...Yes... Borax. Carry it with you in the RV. It is safe and I wouldn't be without it !!”

Mix 3 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar and 4 teaspoons of borax (ie: 20 Mule Team). Soak cotton balls in the mixture and place them in the area where you see the pests. They will take the bait to their nests and in 2 or 3 days they should disappear.

“Disclaimer: This has worked for me - others have said it didn't,” Frankie adds.

Elita writes: Twenty Mule Team Borax? I remember my aunt used to use that in her wash to get the clothes cleaner - that was a long time ago. I looked up the site and found that it has many uses - however it failed to list it's value as an ant inhibitor ...maybe they are afraid of getting sued over advocating killing the critters.”

http://www.dialcorp.com/index.cfm?page_id=55

“Next time I know what to do if we go over there again in ladybug
season...we'll park in the shade!” said Lynn.

And speaking of Borax, if you haven’t yet visited the Borax Company in Boron, CA you can read about it in this article:

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