You may have heard the saying that ladybugs are lucky.
Many cultures link the sighting of a ladybug with future luck in love, good weather, a financial windfall, or the granting of wishes.
Having a ladybug land on you is particularly lucky in some cultures, and some people believe that when a ladybug lands on an object, that object will be replaced by a new and improved version.
But if you have ladybugs surrounding and invading your home by the dozens, hundreds or even thousands, you may not consider yourself so lucky.
If you are seeing large congregations of the colorful little beetles, it's not ladybugs - it's the Asian beetle.
These relatives of the well-known red and black lucky ladybug have become a homeowner's worst nightmare.
One of the most common superstitions about ladybugs is that killing a beetle will bring bad luck.
There are two practical reasons for this superstition.
Protecting ladybugs is important to farmers since the lady beetles, as they are also called, feast on harmful plant-eating pests such as aphids and other soft-bodied arthropods.
The Asian beetle is a voracious predator of aphids and similar unwanted insects on trees, shrubs, and crops.
Adults are capable of consuming 90 to 270 aphids per day and larvae can consume between 600 and 1,200 aphids during its lifecycle.
If you're a homeowner, there is another good reason you might not want to kill a lady bug.
If agitated or squashed, the beetles have defensive reaction known as "reflex bleeding.
"When smashed, they release a yellow fluid with a strong unpleasant odor from their leg joints.
This protects the ladybug from being eaten by birds.
But around the home, the fluid leaves nasty stains on siding, walls and fabrics that is difficult to remove.
When large numbers of them take up residence in a home, they will crawl all over the walls, windows, light fixtures and many other surfaces.
Because ladybugs are tree-dwelling insects, homes and buildings in forested areas are especially prone to infestation.
Suburban and landscaped industrial settings adjacent to wooded areas have also had large Asian beetle aggregations.
In the fall, they often land on clothing and occasionally will bite.
The bite feels like a pinprick and is seldom serious.
Although Asian lady beetles do not transmit diseases per se, recent studies suggest that infestations can cause allergies in some individuals, ranging from eye irritation to asthma.
People should avoid touching their eyes after handling the beetles and should consult a physician if they suspect they are having an allergic reaction.
It is a good idea to wash hands or other skin after contacting the beetles.
In at least one study, the severity of sinus problems subsided with the removal of beetles from the home.
Asian lady beetles are also becoming a concern of the wine industry.
Due to their noxious odor, even small numbers of beetles inadvertently processed along with grapes can taint the flavor of wine.