Ladybugs are beneficial in the garden, but can be a nuisance inside your home.
Ladybugs are normally extremely beneficial to home gardens and plants. Ladybugs eat aphids and other insects that feed on and weaken garden plants. Once the cooler weather of autumn arrives, ladybugs will look for a warm and safe place to spend the winter months. Ladybugs will slip through cracks and holes in houses, and can infest the inside of your home in large numbers. You can make a few kinds of repellents to try and discourage them from entering unwanted areas.
Alcohol Spray
Fill a bowl or cup with 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol. Mix the alcohol with one quart of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Use the alcohol spray on areas in which you notice heavy ladybug activity, such as cracks or holes in your home. Try to use the alcohol sparingly, you want to repel the ladybugs, and not kill them by soaking them with the alcohol spray. Spraying the cracks before you see ladybugs entering will help deter them in the future.
Garlic Oil
Homemade garlic oil spray will also help repel ladybugs, but will not harm them. Finely mince 3 ounces of garlic cloves, then soak the garlic in 2 teaspoons of mineral oil in a bowl for 24 hours. After 24 hours have past, fill a glass with 16 ounces of water and 1/4 ounce of liquid dish soap. Pour the soapy water mixture into the bowl with the garlic and mineral oil. Stir the mixture slowly to combine. You can then apply the garlic oil to the areas with a spray bottle, or simply brush it on with a small paintbrush.
Pepper
The chemical capsaicin contained in many types of pepper is also a natural insect repellent. Sprinkle some ground cayenne pepper or red pepper into the areas to repel the ladybugs. To make the pepper adhere better to flat surfaces, lightly mist the surface with water from a spray bottle, then dust the area with the ground pepper.
Nicotine
You can make another ladybug repellent from cigarette or tobacco leaves. The nicotine in the tobacco is toxic to many insects, but because it is effective for only a few hours after application, it won't usually kill ladybugs, but will simply repel them. Soak 1 cup of cigarettes or dried tobacco leaves in 1 gallon of warm water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, then let it sit for 30 minutes. Pour the mixture through a strainer or a cheesecloth and into a spray bottle. Spray the areas in which you notice heavy ladybug activity.
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