ladybugs and mice

[George Marsh]

In years past, after the beans are in, the ladybugs attach the house and barn. This year there were only a few.

Same with mice, when the fields are empty and it gets cold, the mice head for the barn and house. This year, I've only seen 2 mice.

Not that I miss either one, just wondering if the hot dry summer had something to do with the ladybug and mice population.
 

[RayP(MI)]

Both populations will vary, with peaks snd valleys in the graphs. Weather conditions may be a factor. Remember a few years back, we had an abundance of mice, when deer hunting, couldn"t walk but a few steps without flushing out another mouse in the woods/fields. Fox population got fat that year.
 

[tractor300]

Just depends on where you're at. We were also very hot and dry, but didn't seem to effect the mouse population. Very few lady bug beatles, but the box elder bugs seem to be doing better this year than they have the past few year's.
 

[NEKS]

Had a fairly big mouse in my feed truck. Put some bar bait on the floor board. I thought it ate more then its share before he left or died. Took about a week and half.
PS Hope it left. May not smell it till spring otherwise. Grindermixer and feed truck were in same shed.
 

[Michael Soldan]

They aren't ladybugs,I don't think. We get them here in southern Ontario,they look like a lady bug but are larger,orange/red in color and the damned things will bite. Its usually the fall when we see them and they like the south side of the house in the sun,hundreds of them,but this year they haven't been so bad.Some bug experts here can likely set us straight.
 

[Billy NY]

Common occurrence here, have seen the ladybugs on the sunny warm fall days, don't even want to talk mice, caught 3 more last night, war on them, traps were clean, til either the weather got colder for awhile or whatever I missed when sick, right back at them now though inside and out!
 

[Greenday]

Probably not lady bugs you see they are a japanese bean beetle
 

[Traditional Farmer]

Animal populations usually run in cycles
 

[IaGary]

The names of the for the beetle he is talking of is the Asian Beetle. The Japanees beetle is bigger and black in color.

It is easy to get the two names mixed up. I do it myself at times. Below is a picture of the Asian beetle
Asian beetle

 

[SweetFeet]

George,

Not sure, but bug/critter populations do seem to be cylical-for instance this year the crickets seemed extra thick around here. One year husband trapped 19 skunks around here (never that many before or since).

The last couple years we have not had nearly as many of the Asian beetles either (colored like a traditional ladybug; but larger, rounder and stink if you touch them or squish them...and they do pinch you). About 10 years ago we were literally invaded by them after scientists set millions (or billions) of them loose in WI due to soybean aphids. Never cured the aphid problem...now the beetles are migrating all over the country. The way those things crawl into walls, I'm sure the walls of our house and shop are now equally as full of beetles as they are of blown-in insulation.
 

[ss55]

In Minnesota the ladybug (japanese beetles) problems is a little smaller every year since they are not being released to protect soybean fields anymore. Boxelder bugs were the bigger pest this fall. For once the mosquitoes were not too bad here last summer, because it was dry.
 

[tjdub]

The ladybug (Multicolored Asian Beetle) population was way down here this year also. Boxelder bug population was through the roof, though. In fact I'm sure my attic is packed full :)

Lots of mice this year too. 1 out of 3 ain't bad, I guess.
 

[pete black]

nw. alabama; lady bugs, red wasbs and mice-down. flys all summer-down. skunks, coons, armadillos and opossums-down. red foxes-up. coyotes-down. rabbits up in spring now-down. birds at feeders-none. deer-way up. change-up. hope-down. money-down. HOWEVER: had Thanksgiving with siblings and mom (87) last night; good-up. grandkids tonight to put up Christmas Tree; noise-up. grandskids home tomorrow night; noise-down. tranquility-UP!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
 

[Bill(Wis)]

At one time, this was a great country. It is now being rapidly transformed into the largest self-licking ice cream cone the world has ever seen.
 

[Wile E]

Now, Now you got it only partly correct....If you are a Elephant you are not allowed to lick the ice cream or the cone.