If ladybugs really are good luck, then residents of Auburn’s on-campus housing should all go buy lottery tickets.
Recently the little red and black critters have been setting up shop in dorm rooms across campus.
Bella Aldana, sophomore in biomedical science, and her roommate Robin Tumlinson, junior in chemical engineering, estimated that at the worst point there were over 100 ladybugs living in their room.
“With our suitemates’ room combined, we probably had 100 or more,” Aldana said. “It’s died down as it’s gotten colder, but it was pretty bad.”
To get rid of the bugs, Aldana and Tumlinson attempted to catch them on sticky pads meant for trapping insects.They put the pads next to windows in hopes of decreasing the number, she said.
Others, like Emily Musselman, freshman in graphic design, who said she had 50-75 ladybugs in her room at one point, had different methods of trying to get rid of them.
Musselman said she tried putting out citrus peels because of an article she read online.
Ultimately though, the job of getting rid of the ladybugs fell to maintenance, Musselman said.
Musselman said the ladybugs came in through the window, so they called maintenance. After putting a sealant on the top of the window, the ladybugs began to die.
Resident of Boyd in the Hill, Maia Meredith, sophomore in architecture, also had to call on maintenance to rid her room of ladybugs.
Meredith said she used a cleaner to try and kill the bugs, but ended up having to call maintenance.
To some, like Aldana, the ladybug infestations are routine.
“I’m from North Alabama, and I’ve heard of people getting them every year,” Aldana said.
Others, like Meredith, know ladybug infestations are a reality each year at Auburn, but have not experienced them at home.
“It’s usually always an issue this time of year,” Meredith said. “It’s just the season for them.”
Musselman said the ladybugs did not bother her too much, but her roommate felt a little differently.
“She was terrified of bugs,” Musselman said. “She slept on the floor one night, and then she left another night.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
