Weve already had cicadas, ticks, mosquitoes and spotted lanternflies bugging us this year. And now New Jerseyans could be bracing for another annoyance swarms of Asian lady beetles.

These colorful beetles, which closely resemble native ladybugs and are part of the ladybug family of insects, have recently been seen in huge droves in parts of Maryland, Virginia and in the District of Columbia, according to reports by the Washington Post and ABC13 News in Virginia.

The Post attributes the swarms to the unseasonably warm weather that has blanketed a large swath of the eastern United States during the past week.

Its not yet known if there have been widespread swarms of Asian lady beetles in New Jersey, but some people on Facebook have reported these insects invading their homes or flying around their towns mostly in South Jersey.

Theyve been EVERRRRYWHERE the last few days, Woodbine resident Keri Libro posted on Facebook this week. Theyve flown around me and Ive thought they were baby wasps.

Libro said she has seen a lot of Asian lady beetles in her area of Cape May County, although she hasnt noticed any big swarms.

I killed about 60 today inside our home! a real estate worker from Ocean City posted on Facebook on Wednesday. As soon as (the) sun goes down they stopped trying to come in. From 10-4 they are the worst!!!

Sightings like this are not uncommon, according to bug experts. They say Asian lady beetles typically spend the autumn season searching for shelter for the cold winter months.

So this is the time of the year people will see these insects crawling or flying around inside their homes or apartments.

Not only can these beetles give off a bad odor or create an ugly yellow stain if they are killed experts say they can bite.

They may attempt to bite people and pets, although these are not typical food items sought by the Asian lady beetles, according to Amy Korman, a bug expert who serves as a horticulture extension educator at the Penn State Extension in Lehigh and Northampton counties in eastern Pennsylvania.

Korman says the best way to keep these beetles out of your home is by making sure there are no cracks, crevices, openings, etc. by which the insects can gain entrance.

Asian lady beetles, like the one seen here, look very similar to common ladybugs but are slightly larger and have an M-shaped marking between their head and their wings.Pixabay

How can you tell the difference between common ladybugs which, by the way, can also bite people or pets, but rarely do and Asian lady beetles?

Asian lady beetles are slightly larger than ladybugs, said Timothy Best, a board-certified entomologist and technical manger for the Terminix pest control company. In addition, their coloration varies.

Ladybugs present bright red with black spots, and their heads tend to be black with small white cheeks, while Asian lady beetles color can vary from red to orange, and they may present with or without spots on their wings, Best noted.

Asian lady beetles also have a distinctive M-shaped marking below their head, according to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Best, who does insect field work in New Jersey, said he hasnt seen signs of beetle swarms being any bigger than they have been in recent years.

If residents and homeowners are seeing Asian lady beetles right now, that isnt necessarily due to an increase in populations, but more so just timing. Autumn is when adult beetles leave their summer feeding habitats and begin to seek refuge from winter and colder temperatures, he told NJ Advance Media in an email.

The adults are more visible now as they seek out suitable places to overwinter. In many instances, these places would include our homes and other structures, Best added. So, increased sightings here do not equate to increased populations. These insects have just moved from our yards, fields, gardens, to right under our noses on our homes.

Asian lady beetles, like the one seen here, look very similar to common ladybugs but are slightly larger and have an M-shaped marking between their head and their wings.Pixabay

The best defense is to pest-proof the home or structure, Best says. The objective is not to keep them off per se, but to keep them out. Homeowners should look to seal gaps around window and doorframes, behind fascias, behind siding and to make sure soffits are closed, and that attic gable vents are properly screened.

Asian lady beetles tend to be attracted to contrasting colors on homes, such as dark shutters on light siding, Best notes. Once they land on a structure, they will seek out protected places to spend the winter gaps, cracks and crevices. These areas could include behind trim and fascia boards.

These beetles can also get into attics through a deficient gable vent, Best says.

In case youre wondering how they got their name, Asian lady beetles are native to eastern Asia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced these bugs in our country in the early 1900s as a natural way to help control the spread of aphids and scale insects that can kill or damage trees, flowers and other plants, according to the Penn State Extension.

These beetles were originally released in Pennsylvania in 1978 and 1981, but the first overwintering beetles were not recorded until 1993, the agency notes.

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.

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Beetles that look like ladybugs are swarming in some eastern states. And they can bite. - NJ.com