Ladybugs are colorful, bright insects we all love. Children can play with the ladybugs. You need not to follow simple instructions while you handle the ladybugs. Childhood stories are famous for ladybugs. However, do the ladybugs bite the human is a big question we all wonder about?
WHERE DO LADYBUGS COME FROM?
You mostly find ladybugs in the mountainous areas of Sierra Nevada, Rocky, Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian along with other mountainous areas of Canada and United States. We find ladybugs near winter areas and love to stay near the crops, under the tree barks or grassy areas.
MOUTHPARTS OF THE LADYBUG
Farmers usually consider ladybugs as beneficial insects for gardens but they might bite and leave a mark over the person’s skin. Ladybugs feed over the soft-bodied because they are toothless beetles. However, instead of teeth they have chewing parts and mandible as other insects.
Their mouthparts include maxillary palps which they use for tasting and feeling. These palps are like antennae with smaller ends and they have club shape. Along with the maxillary palps, it has an upper lip or labrum, lower labium, grasping maxilla for holding bits and pieces and chewing mandible.
DO LADYBUGS BITE ITCH?
Ladybugs result in itching because they definitely bite human beings due to chewing mandibles. Ladybugs have diminished or minute sized mandibles compared to human beings. They use these tiny mandibles for biting humans. The tiny mandibles of ladybugs cause small bite or slight pinch which causes minor itchiness. These beetles lack any saliva or poisonous glands due to which the tiny bite can only lead to mild irritation along with mild itchiness. The ladybugs’ bite do not result in severe irritation. Their bite does not cause the transmission of diseases like other insects.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LADYBUGS BITE?
Ladybugs usually speed up and run as soon as they see humans due to which they are less likely to bite humans. These multicolored beetles have sharp chewing parts capable of biting humans. It releases a pungent smelled blood when they sting. Still, this secretion is neither deadly nor poisonous. These bugs transmit none diseases or parasitic infections. However, they might cause pain.
According to one research, the ladybugs release a chemical known as “isopropyl methoxy pyrazine” which helps in deterring the predators. The blood of the ladybug contains this chemical which they release on agitation. The ladybugs release foul odor blood with orange stains on fabrics or other surfaces.
Read Also:Borax Ant Killer – How to Kill Ants Using Borax & Natural Methods
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF LADYBUG BITE?
Ladybugs are insects that do not inject poisonous material. They do not feed on animals due to which their bite is non-infected. Raised bumps occur after the ladybug bite which causes pain and irritation. The ladybugs don’t have sharp mouthparts and do not penetrate the skin completely. The ladybug bite causes an allergic reaction in some individuals. You should consult a doctor or physician if you experience swelling, rashes, or infection.
WHY DO THE LADYBUGS BITE HUMANS?
I usually consider ladybugs the happy insects with good signs for gardeners, especially those who have a pest infestation in their gardens. When the environmental factors get hard for the survival of ladybugs, they bite other ladybugs or humans to compensate for the food and water level in the body. One of the notorious species of a ladybug includes the Asian Harlequin which happily feeds on humans especially during difficult or hot situations.
LADYBUG BITE SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of ladybug bite include the symptoms of asthma, conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, or hives according to the evidence published in 1998. Sharma and his colleagues performed a survey on 99 people. Half of the individuals showed an allergic reaction to the ladybugs while 19% had symptoms on direct contact with these beetles.
The most commonly seen symptoms include:
- a runny nose,
- itchy eyes,
- rashes and
- sneezing
LADYBUG BITE PICTURES
PREVENTION AGAINST LADYBUG INFESTATION:
You can simply prevent yourself from the ladybug bites by stopping their infestation in the homes.
- Seal the openings and cracks in order to prevent them from crawling inside.
- You can add window sills or flexible doors in order to seal the home.
- If you find ladybugs inside your house, then make use of a vacuum cleaner instead of a broom to collect them. Sweeping away the ladybugs results in the reflex bleeding from these beetles. It is therefore advised to place the nylon stocking on the vacuum cleaner hose so that it collects over it instead of the machine. It allows you to dispose of the ladybugs easily without getting in minimal exposure. Wash your hands thoroughly with soapy water in order to prevent any infection or allergic reaction.
HOW TO TREAT THE LADYBUG BITES?
There is nothing to worry about such bites. You need to follow these simple tips in order to treat the ladybug bite:
- You need to simply wash the affected area with the help of water and soap to minimize the chances of infection.
- However, if you experience severe symptoms then you must consult a doctor or other professional. After an examination of the area, the doctor will diagnose the area and then follow the treatment plan.
- In case, some allergic reactions do occur it is advised to treat it in a similar way when allergies occur to pollens, dust mites, and pet dander. You should consume antihistamines or other anti-allergy drugs in order to reduce the signs and symptoms of ladybugs bite
Leave a Reply