Lady bugs in Maine, seems like more than usual this year?
As Mainers open up their Maine lake camps and homes, more lady bugs are on the scene this spring.
Slow moving and not bothering anyone but showing up in greater numbers.
Has anyone else noticed lady bugs attracted to the light on windowsills, over doorways at Maine waterfront seasonal properties?
I grew up on a family farm and my Dad always told the four boys lady bugs are good for potato growers.
The Asian lady beetle imported back in 1916. Brought to America deliberately by the USDA to help tackle an aphid pest problem on pecan, other nut trees. Here in Maine, in the 1970’s, the seven spot lady bug was welcomed in
to help battle our potato aphid problem. The aphids were wreaking havoc with the potato plant leaves and hurting yields, costing Maine potato farmers hard earned money.
In other online posts you read in the 1990’s there was an explosion of thirteen spot lady bugs in Maine cruising, hitching a free ride in on cargo ships.
The old 1970 Maine lady bug population is declining.
Now I have to look closer, to see the difference in my lake place in Maine lady bug population.
(Squinting) They all look the same and did not know there were so many differences. Never gave it much thought other than Dad said lady bugs are our Maine farm friends.
A real natural help and a good farm insect. Like finding more angle worms, Earth rooms in the soil. Lady bugs are a good sign and have an important job to do on the Maine potato farm.
Eating those pesky Colorado potato beetles to help the spud crop for Maine growers.
So off to count the number of spots, study the color of red to orange difference in my new uninvited lake house guests.
Local Maine pototo growers are struggling with a cold, wet rainy spring this spring.
Working hard getting the ground ready, the crop planted in between rain showers to plant them in the ground.
While sweeping, clearing cobwebs, washing windows, spring cleaning at the lake property…
I wonder why all my cute, slow moving red orange with black spot buddies, the lady bugs are showing up in Maine in greater number this spring?
How come so many and are lady bugs a problem? A lake home in Maine buyer this morning told me she is not so fond of the Mexican beetle that bites.
Not sure if I have any other those but how do you control the insect pest population best?
And knowing you are on a Maine lake and extra sensitive not to upset the natural balance or end up hurting another waterfront neighbor.
This East Grand Lake log home buyer told me how she remedied the Asian lady bug, Mexican lady bug and all her other orange back with black spot house guests.
She said the Ortho product from Tractor Supply did not work but a Spectracide one did.
My life partner Meg is death on anything chemical no matter not carefully applied or how safe anyone tells you it is.
So will get back to you on the all natural ways to eliminate a pest.
How to herd lady bugs from inside to outside.
And what kind I have for house guests.
But evicting them to the great outdoors in Maine without hurting another corner of the lakefront neighborhood.
Poorly designed, overworked septic systems and soil erosion are two big problems to tackle on Maine lakes.
And no one wants invasive milfoil to take over your lake in Maine.
Being respectful of Mother Nature, the fish in the lake, the birds, bees and other insects around it.
We in Maine are all brought up to be respectful of the environment around us because we know the skates are high.
It is up to everyone one of us to be good stewards and to protect the natural resource we are lucky to pass on and share.
It seems everyone is still battling lawn grubs in Maine and asking what is the cause of all these new infestation problems.
Higher temperatures, less snow, greater resistance to the methods to battle them?
Have blogged on the lawn grubs in Maine before.
Anything Maine is the topic of discussion on our Me In Maine blog post faithful readers.