When a graphic of Bailey, the dog with over 40 Asian lady beetles stuck to the roof of her mouth, surfaced in 2016, pet parents were naturally alarmed. Fortunately, her veterinarian was able to remove the beetles, and Bailey was restored to good health.
As a good dog parent, you’d like to know if Asian lady beetles are a threat to your pet. The short answer is yes. But the good news is that these encounters are rare, and when they do occur, they’re usually quite treatable.
Find out whether your dog is at risk, how to prevent encounters with Asian lady beetles, and what to do if she ends up like Bailey.
Have you ever panicked when your furry friend snapped at a little red bug in your garden? I certainly have! As a dog owner, I’m always worried about what my curious pup might put in his mouth. Ladybugs seem harmless enough to us humans, but could these colorful insects pose a threat to our canine companions? Let’s dig into the facts about ladybugs and dogs.
The Ladybug vs. Asian Lady Beetle Confusion
First things first – we need to clear up a common confusion What many of us call “ladybugs” might actually be something else entirely!
Traditional ladybugs (also called ladybirds) are generally harmless to dogs However, their look-alike cousins – Asian lady beetles – can potentially cause problems
Here’s how to tell them apart
- Native Ladybugs: Usually red with black spots, typically having a specific number of spots (like the nine-spotted ladybug)
- Asian Lady Beetles: More varied in color (yellow to orange to red to black), can have anywhere from 0-19 spots, and have a distinctive M-shaped marking on the area behind their head (called the pronotum)
The Asian lady beetle was actually introduced to North America by the government for pest control purposes back in the 1980s. They’ve become prolific across most of the United States, except for Montana, Wyoming, and parts of the Southwest.
The Infamous Bailey Case
In 2016, a graphic image circulated on social media showing a dog named Bailey with over 40 Asian lady beetles stuck to the roof of her mouth! This understandably caused panic among dog owners. Fortunately, Bailey’s veterinarian, Dr. Lindsay Mitchell from Hoisington Veterinary Hospital in Kansas, was able to remove the beetles, and Bailey recovered.
Bailey’s case happened during a period when Barton County, Kansas experienced a massive influx of Asian lady beetles due to an abundance of sugarcane aphids. As Dr. Mitchell described it: “We literally had swarms of them.”
Why Asian Lady Beetles Can Be Problematic
Unlike our native friendly ladybugs, Asian lady beetles have some concerning characteristics:
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They release toxic fluid: When threatened, these beetles release body fluids (hemolymph) containing stinky and poisonous chemicals.
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They can cause chemical burns: As Dr. Elizabeth Doll, a veterinarian with WVRC Emergency and Specialty Pet Care explains, “Hemolymph is corrosive, and can cause chemical burns to the mouth and/or gastrointestinal tract.”
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They have sticky, durable bodies: Their exoskeletons are made of chitin, which doesn’t break down easily. Their rounded shape makes them difficult for a dog’s tongue to remove, allowing them to get stuck to the roof of a dog’s mouth.
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They taste terrible: The fluid has a strong repellent odor and foul taste. This is actually somewhat protective, as most dogs won’t try to eat many of them after tasting the first few!
How Common Are These Problems?
Good news! Despite the scary Bailey case, encounters between dogs and Asian lady beetles that cause harm are actually quite rare. In fact, there’s only one formal published paper on the subject – a case where a dog had 16 Asian lady beetles embedded in the mucous membrane of its hard palate.
Dr. Mitchell notes that the cases she saw “were limited to anorexia due to painful ulcerations in the mouth. The ulcers calmed down with manual removal of the beetles and treatment of the ulcers.”
However, Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinary advisor, does warn that “veterinarians have reported a few cases of dogs ingesting these beetles and subsequently developing vomiting, diarrhea, and other signs of gastroenteritis. One dog even died as a result.”
Warning Signs Your Dog May Have Encountered Asian Lady Beetles
Keep an eye out for these symptoms if you suspect your dog may have eaten or mouthed Asian lady beetles:
- Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Reluctance to eat
- Foul odor coming from the mouth
- Visible beetles within the mouth
- Open sores in the mouth
- Reduced appetite
- Vomiting (possibly with blood)
- Diarrhea (possibly with blood)
- Lethargy or unusual behavior
- Drowsiness
What to Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Eaten Lady Beetles
If you notice any of the above symptoms, don’t wait – contact your veterinarian immediately. Here’s what treatment typically involves:
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Physical removal of the beetles: Your vet may need to sedate your dog or use general anesthesia if there are many beetles.
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Treatment for chemical burns: This may include medications for pain, inflammation, and accelerating healing.
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Antibiotics: These might be prescribed to treat or prevent infection.
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Special mouthwash: Dr. Mitchell treats her patients with a mouthwash containing sucralfate, lidocaine, and diphenhydramine to treat ulcers and reduce discomfort.
The good news is that mouth tissues heal relatively quickly. As Dr. Jonathan Babyak from Tufts University points out, “Luckily for any dog with damage to their mouth, the gums and tissues of the mouth heal very quickly—usually within seven days.”
Prevention: Keeping Your Dog Safe
While these incidents are uncommon, it’s always better to be safe than sorry! Here are some tips to protect your pup:
Check Your Dog’s Mouth
If you notice lots of Asian lady beetles around, take a quick peek in your dog’s mouth after outdoor time, especially if they seem to be drooling more than usual or refusing food.
Reduce Beetle Numbers in Your Home
- Caulk cracks around windows, doors, pipes, and the attic where beetles might enter
- Vacuum up any beetles that get inside
- Remember that in fall, Asian lady beetles seek sheltered spots to prepare for winter
Watch for Swarms
Be especially vigilant during times when beetle populations surge, typically in autumn when they’re looking for winter shelter or during aphid population booms.
The Bottom Line: Should You Worry?
The chances of your dog ending up like Bailey with a mouthful of beetles are pretty slim. Most dogs will try one beetle, hate the taste, and never try again. However, some especially curious dogs (like Bailey, who apparently had multiple encounters!) might not learn their lesson.
Dr. Nancy C. Hinkle, professor of veterinary entomology at the University of Georgia, notes that most dogs will “quickly seek water to wash away the taste—which is a good thing, because it minimizes the chance that beetles will get stuck in the esophagus.”
It’s worth noting that many people incorrectly believed the Bailey image showed ladybugs, but the American Veterinary Medical Association clarified they were actually Asian lady beetles. This distinction is important because native ladybugs don’t typically cause these issues.
Should I Keep Ladybugs Out of My Garden?
Native ladybugs are beneficial insects that help control garden pests like aphids and mites. There’s little reason to discourage them from your garden as they pose minimal risk to your dog.
As for Asian lady beetles, while they’re also good for pest control, their potential to cause harm might make you wary. Still, the risk is low enough that most experts don’t recommend taking extreme measures to eliminate them from your yard – just be vigilant about your dog’s behavior and symptoms.
Final Thoughts
So are ladybugs harmful to dogs? Traditional native ladybugs – not really. Asian lady beetles – potentially, but rarely seriously. The key is knowing the difference and keeping an eye on your curious canine.
As with most things in pet parenting, awareness and quick action if problems arise are your best tools. Now go enjoy your garden with your four-legged friend, but maybe keep them away from any suspicious-looking “ladybugs” with that distinctive M-mark behind their heads!
Remember, when in doubt, always consult with your veterinarian. They can provide guidance specific to your dog’s health needs and circumstances.
Have you ever had an experience with your dog and ladybugs or Asian lady beetles? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
Asian Lady Beetles 101
It can be tough to spot the difference between a multi-colored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) and a native North American species like the nine-spotted ladybug (referred to as C-9). One handy way to tell the difference is to look at the area behind the beetle’s head (called the pronotum)—the Asian beetle’s is yellow-colored with black markings in the middle. Asian beetles also vary widely in color from yellow to black, and have anywhere from zero to 19 spots on the outer shell, in contrast to C-9’s standard nine.
Both species are from a family of lady beetles called Coccinellidae, and both have voracious appetites for nuisance pests like aphids, scale insects, and mites. Beetles are so effective at pest control, in fact, that the federal government has introduced them from eastern Asia to help control our aphid populations. They’ve been prolific across the country since about the mid-1980s, and are present in much of the continental United States, except for Montana, Wyoming, and parts of the Southwest.
While Asian beetle populations have grown in numbers, North American species like C-9 (Coccinella novemnotata) have dwindled during the past several decades, according to The Lost Ladybug Project. So chances are, the little orange oval-shaped tomato bug you’ve encountered recently is the Asian variety.
Asian lady beetles may be coveted for their role as natural pest control agents, but they also have a reputation as a nuisance species. Their hefty appetites extend to non-pest insects, like monarch butterfly eggs and larvae (whose numbers have already been reduced), says Dr. Robert Koch, assistant professor and extension entomologist at the University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology in Saint Paul.
They’re also hardier and more aggressive than North American ladybugs (who experts say don’t pose a risk to dogs). In the fall, “they aggregate on and in homes and other buildings to find protected locations for spending winter,” he says.
It’s not unusual to see thousands of Asian beetles congregated in an area. When Barton County, Kansas, (where Bailey is from) experienced a bumper crop of sugarcane aphids last year, Asian beetles were also on hand to enjoy the feast. “We literally had swarms of them,” says Dr. Lindsay Mitchell, owner of Hoisington Veterinary Hospital in Hoisington, Kansas, and Bailey’s vet.
One of the reasons they’re able to remain stuck so firmly to a dog’s palate is because of their size and shape, says Patrick (PJ) Liesch, assistant faculty associate and extension entomologist with the Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. “Insect exoskeletons are made out of a tough material known as chitin, which does not readily break down,” he say. “In the mouth of an animal, this material would be somewhat similar to the hull of a popcorn kernel.”
Plus beetles have hard, thickened wing covers that protect their hind wings from damage, Liesch says. “In lady beetles, these wing covers give the insects a rounded, hemispherical shape, which would make them difficult for the dog’s tongue to remove.”
What Precautions Can You Take Against Asian Lady Beetles?
As uncommon as these encounters are, it doesn’t hurt to be vigilant for your dog’s sake. Animals are going to be curious and eat things they shouldn’t eat. Some dogs—like Bailey, who has had to have beetles removed several times after that initial incident—are more curious than others, Mitchell says.
“I dont know that there is a great way to prevent it,” she says. “If the owner notices a great number of these Asian lady beetles around, they may peek into their pet’s mouth after they have been outside. If a pet owner notices that their pet is drooling or not wanting to eat, simply look in their mouth.”
Your best option as a dog parent is to keep beetle numbers in your home low, says Dr. Michael Skvarla, insect identifier and extension educator in the Department of Entomology at Penn State University in University Park.
“Ways to do this include mechanical exclusion, such as caulking cracks around windows, doors, pipes, and the attic where beetles enter a home, and vacuuming up beetles once they enter a home,” he says.
Asian lady beetles seek out sheltered spots in fall in anticipation of winter. “Out in nature, this would include cliff and rock faces and loose bark of dead trees,” Liesch says. “However, these insects can also readily sneak into buildings. Depending on the conditions, large numbers of these insects can occasionally be active indoors during the late fall, winter, or early spring months.”
Are Ladybugs Poisonous To Pets? – The Plant Enthusiast
FAQ
What can ladybugs do to dogs?
Ladybugs can cause problems for dogs when they are Asian lady beetles, which are an invasive species that look like ladybugs. These beetles release a chemical from their legs when threatened, and if a dog eats them, this chemical can cause a mild to severe reaction, including vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and mouth ulcers. If your dog eats these beetles, watch for symptoms like excessive drooling, foaming at the mouth, loss of appetite, or sores in the mouth and contact your veterinarian immediately.
What color ladybugs are poisonous?
What if my dog eats a ladybug?
Eating ladybugs can cause mild symptoms like vomiting, drooling, or diarrhea in dogs due to toxins or irritation.Oct 29, 2009
What bug is harmful to dogs?