Has anyone noticed all the ladybugs roaming around South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota? You're not alone.

Believe it or not, these aren't ladybugs that are outside the park or inside our South Dakota, Iowa, or Minnesota homes. Instead of an increase in ladybugs, the Sioux Empire is seeing a huge rise in the Asian lady beetle

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So what is an Asian lady beetle and what is it doing in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota?

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According to the University of Minnesota, Asian lady beetles look very similar to ladybugs. They have more of an orange and yellow color. They have become one of the biggest "nuisances" to homes across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Not only are they found inside homes, but also in soybean fields.

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Can the Asian lady beetle harm people? No. But they can bite. These are some warnings about these pesky insects from the experts at the University of Minnesota:

  • Some can bite hard enough to break human skin, causing minor, short-lived discomfort. These bites happen when the beetles are searching for moisture or food.

  • They can secrete a strong-smelling yellowish liquid from the joints of their legs. This liquid can stain light-colored surfaces.

  • Exposure to dead lady beetles in buildings can cause allergic reactions in some people

Here are some tips from the University of Minnesota on how you can keep your home safe from the South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota Asian lady beetle invasion:

  • Check the outside of your home for spaces and cracks that may allow insects easy entry.
  • Seal cracks and spaces around doors, windows and fascia boards. Check for gaps and cracks where different materials meet, such as brick and wood siding.
  • Seal areas where cable TV wires, phone lines, and other utility wires and pipes, outdoor facets, dryer vents and similar objects enter buildings.
  • Seal with caulk or, for larger spaces, use polyurethane expandable spray foam, steel wool, copper mesh or another appropriate sealant.
  • Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
  • Repair or replace damaged screens in roof and soffit vents, and in bathroom and kitchen fans.
  • Install door sweeps or thresholds to all exterior entry doors. Install a rubber seal along the bottom of garage doors.

These South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota bugs are just annoying, especially when colder weather comes around.

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A Survival Guide For Winter in South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the rest of the Sioux Empire (AKA southeastern South Dakota) are welcoming thousands of new residents every year.


Many of you new folks will be experiencing your first eastern South Dakota winter. While it doesn't usually get as bad as our Dakota friends up north, I speak from experience when I say it can get a little rough.


So, to help ease you into winter in Sioux Falls and South Dakota here are some winter survival tips:

Gallery Credit: RESULTS-TOWNSQUARE MEDIA SIOUX FALLS

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