Question
Bugs In My House
Hi Jim, I live in Cincinnati, OH. We have lived in our 2 story house here for about 7 years. We are used to getting large spiders in the winter time in our lower level family room because our house is backed right up to a wooded area and it doesn't seem to matter what we do, we get some every year. This past year we had very few though.
However, the last few days I have killed at least 5-6 of these beetle bug looking insects I have never seen before. They sort of remind me of lightning bugs with their outer markings (black with some orange) and their flying ability but they aren't it and I have no idea why all of a sudden they seem to be everywhere in my house. I hate bugs anyway and I keep a clean house so not only is it annoying it's offensive. What are they, where are they coming from and how in the world do I get rid of them? Pic attached (sorry he's a little crushed).
It has been unseasonably cold here longer than usual. It had been in the 20's & 30's and the past few days it's been higher 40's & 50's, as it should be this time of year.
Thanks! April
AnswerThe best I can tell from the squashed bug is it looks like what we in the South call a Love bug.
These flies are known as March flies in southern states because they their form large mating swarms during the month of March. (see photos) They normally swarm in May in Michigan. They are also known as love bugs because they often fly around in tandem. Bug geeks call them bibionids (Diptera: Bibionidae). The flies are odd looking with large hairy eyes. Like other primitive flies in the suborder Nematocera, they have seven or more 揻reely articulated?antennae segments. The flies do not bite and are harmless. Here is a web link with a picture seee if this is what you have.
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg216.html
If the invasion and swarms have found your home
and you are finding Lovebugs throughout the living
area of the house, use some of the Deltamethrin
or Permethrin inside to knock them down. These
liquids are good for baseboard treatments and
will kill any Lovebugs which crawl over the
treated surface.
