An increased number of ladybugs have invaded the campus and caused problems for students and faculty.
The bugs appear to be yellow, orange and red varieties of the common ladybug. Students and faculty have noticed a high population of these pests in places such as Harter Union, classrooms and even in the residence halls.
Senior Professor of Biology Roger Boyd said the bugs actually are classified as Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles. Boyd said this time of year is when the beetles can be abundant and a nuisance.
“They have a tendency to get into human dwellings in the fall,” Boyd said. “The beetles become active any time during the day when the room warms up to around 70 degrees.”
Boyd said the beetles are not native to the country, and the last time they appeared in large quantity was in the mid-1980s. The bugs are easy to raise in captivity, and they aid in eating pests that are harmful to local crops.
Boyd said the bugs are not migrating, and they now live in the Baldwin city area. He said the bugs will be trying to get outside again in April.
Boyd said the beetles have been known to bite humans. However, the bite will not break the skin, and the beetles are not poisonous. The bugs also release a scent when tampered with as a defense mechanism.
Boyd said the increased number of beetles may be due to the higher amount of moisture Baldwin City has received lately.
“There must have been something good about this year,” Boyd said.
Gary Walbridge, director of the physical plant, said he can’t remember a time when the beetles have been this bad on campus.
“We have had a number of people call, but there is nothing we can do,” Walbridge said. “They are considered an environmentally-friendly bug.”
Walbridge said he remembers farmers getting jars of the beetles to spread in their fields in the past.
“This time of year is when they get pretty thick,” he said.
Students having to deal with the bug infestation are taking matters into their own hands and disposing of the bugs in less than friendly manners.
Sophomore Clayton Alexander is a resident assistant on the third floor of the Living and Learning Center. Alexander said he has had a personal problem with the bugs in his room as well as received a lot of complaints from the residents.
“It is disconcerting to get back from class and have bugs in your room,” he said.
Alexander said he took it upon himself as an RA to gather information about the beetles and what students could do to get rid of them. He said he was instructed to tell the students to keep their windows closed and to squish the existing bugs.
Alexander said the majority of the complaints he has received are from the corner rooms on the third floor. He said he believes the bugs are entering through the air conditioning units.
“It looks really bad to have between 20 or 30 bugs crawling all over the ceiling,” Alexander said. “I don’t care that they are cute like ladybugs, they bite.”
