Asian Lady Beetles Invade Middle Tennessee Homes

Insects seek winter shelter as the first hard freeze of the season arrives in parts of Middle Tennessee this weekend.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Forecasts

Clustered orange and black lady beetles on a sunlit brick wall beside a window frame, with bare autumn branches blurred behind them. — Multicolored Asian lady beetles are seeking winter shelter in Middle Tennessee homes as the first hard freeze of the season arrives this weekend. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Have you sealed gaps around your home to keep bugs out this winter?

Multicolored Asian lady beetles, stink bugs, and boxelder bugs are seeking shelter inside Middle Tennessee homes as temperatures drop. The first hard freeze of the season is expected Friday night in parts of the region.

Why it matters

Insects look for protection in warm places to survive colder months, and homes offer wall voids, attics, and gaps around windows and doors. Residents across the state may notice increased insect activity indoors as freezing conditions arrive.

Asian lady beetles can squeeze through openings as small as one-eighth of an inch, the smallest gap reported for the insects. The extraction does not provide counts of insects or a comparison to prior seasons.

The details

Asian lady beetles gather by the thousands on sunny sides of buildings before finding openings to enter homes. Insects use small cracks, gaps around doors and windows, and utility openings, and many are seeking shelter rather than food.

Fall: Insects gather and search for winter shelter.
This weekend (Friday night): First hard freeze of the season expected in Middle Tennessee.

Seasonal Patterns

Asian lady beetles have a recurring habit of moving into homes each fall as temperatures drop and sheltered sites become attractive. This year's indoor activity follows that annual cycle as the first hard freeze arrives in Middle Tennessee.

Replace weatherstripping, seal cracks, and inspect utility openings before freezing temperatures arrive. Clear yard debris and replace window screens to limit entry points for insects.

The takeaway

Sealing small gaps around doors, windows, and utility openings before the first freeze is the most direct step homeowners can take to keep insects out of living spaces this season.