This ladybug lookalike tries to stow away in warm homes during the winter

Credit: Daniel Suiter

As the weather gets colder, you might notice a ladybug lookalike in your house.

The multicolor Asian lady beetle is a lot like your typical ladybug. You’ll only be able to tell the difference if you notice a small W or M marking behind its head.

And like a ladybug, they won’t hurt you, your furniture, or your groceries. They’re actually helpful in your garden, where they eat the pests that might damage your plants.

In autmumn and winter, the insects might venture into homes seeking warmth.

But according to Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, sticking out the winter in your house is bad for them.

"If they get in a closed environment, in our living environment, they basically starve themselves to death," he said.

Their metabolism helps them survive colder weather. But if they do die inside a home, their bodies tend to attract larger insects.

So the best thing you can do is be gentle, get a cup, and take them back outside.