Those Aren't Ladybugs Spreading Luck Inside Maine and NH Homes

We've all been guilty of it since our childhood -- we see a small, round, adorable-looking red bug with black spots, immediately identify it as a ladybug, then go about our merry way after making a wish on it.

Except, you may not have just made a wish on and could be getting a dose of good luck from a ladybug. In fact, it may be a totally different insect entirely that's not only a pest that could infiltrate your home, but also cause allergic reactions throughout you and your entire family.

Asian Lady Beetles

According to the University of Minnesota Extension (UMN), although they look super similar and nearly-identical to the ladybugs we've come to know and love, Asian lady beetles have a couple of noticeable differences, even though they belong to the same insect family.

While ladybugs always appear red with black spots, Asian lady beetles can appear red as well, but also orange or yellow, and in some rare cases, even black. Asian lady beetles are also a bit longer than regular ladybugs, measuring out to be about 1/3-of-an-inch long.

Asian Lady Beetle Dangers

The good thing is that for the most part, according to UMN, there are no real significant dangers presented by the Asian lady beetle. However, when threatened or crushed, the Asian lady beetle expels a yellow liquid from its legs that will not only stain the surface it's secreted on, but also smell horribly foul. This can sometimes cause allergic reactions in some people (nothing anaphylactic from what reports suggest, but still annoying.)

The best way to avoid Asian lady beetles infiltrating your home and possibly putting you or your family at risk of allergic reactions and just overall annoyances (not to mention reeking havoc on your fall garden), is to seal all gaps near windows and other areas of the home.

If you come across them in your home, do not crush them. Your best bet is to suck them up with your vacuum, that way you avoid dealing with the yellow liquid they secrete.

Asian lady beetles may not be banned anywhere, but here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

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Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

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