Lady Bugs OR....Asian Beetles

[cluckychick]

I've heard that the beetles without the spots are Asian Beetles and they smell funny when you touch them??? I cannot keep them out of my brooder box, even though my chicks do not eat them nor even peck at them. I just find it annoying to see them crawling around the light. Would it hurt to put a piece of plexy glass between the light and the chicks on one side and then just turn the light off on the other?

 

[Ang]

Asian beetles are orange and have a musty smell when you squish them. They also bite. Nasty things! Also they are more round and bigger than a lady bug.

 

[2dream]

I am not sure. That does not sound real safe to me. But if you do try it be sure and watch the temp inside that brooder. Less air flow means higher temps. If I were going to try that I would make sure I was going to be able to check the temp every few minutes for several hours.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Real Ladybird Beetles exude some strange smelling gunk from their knees too...but they don't bite like those others...they're mean!

 

[Godiva]

All lady beetles are very helpful in the yard for eating plant pests. The asian lady beetles have an 'M' or 'W' on their head - they have vaying numbers of spots. THey won't cause any harm to your chicks but blocking ventilation might be a real problem. They can squeeze through the tiniest cracks... Why don't you use some window screen over the gaps if you are really 'bugged' by them!

 

[Zookeeper9000]

I read somewhere that the chickens love to eat these bugs and they are high in protein. Don't ask me where I read that, does anyone know if this is true. Thanks

 

[newchickwi]

Quote:
Boy, I sure hope so! We were overrun with them this fall and I dread what the spring will bring!

 

[hoosier]

Mine refuse to eat them.

 

[Gindee77]

My chicks won't eat them either, they must know that they taste nasty or something!

But boy, if I catch an ant and put it in the brooder...holy cow! They all go crazy on it!

 

[SpottedCrow]

I watched Obelisk nip the head off an ant and eat the body...