lady bugs

[mattgr0ss]

JW i have my veiled at a country house they get TONS of those little red, orange laidy bugs and i have already noticed two in his cage. is that ok for him to eat not intentionaly but they get into his cage the mesh is large enough for them to get in but my veiled not get out and i think they like the humidity and warmth so they go to it. jw will this be a problem. i try to keep them off and out but its hard with two jobs im gone alot of the time

 

[thegonja]

im no bug expert but i get lots of lady bugs as well in my house i did a quick serch one day and there toxic (makes sence brightly colored)

but iv noticed my 2 mounth old veild dosnt go after them

id keep a eye on it

 

[lele]

orange/red/black combination are nature's "warning" colors and animals "learn" not to eat things with this coloration. Sometimes it is inherent sometimes not. When they fly the color is not as noticeable. Do your best to keep them out. These are the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles that were brought in as beneficial insects and they are turning out to be anything but. They have become real pests for both humans and other insects. Their larvae have been found eating the early instar caterpillar of monarch butterflies as well as some of our native lady beetles. Some people have allergic reactions to them. If interested you can read about them here: MALB

They tend to migrate into houses in the north in the fall(in their natural home they spend the winter in cliffs and our house are the closest thing they have) and when we have warm days they disperse and we see them wandering around. I am selective about insects that I kill but with open tanks and cages (and the ecological damage they cause) I don't hesitate. If you squish them you will smell the defensive chemical (warning) odor they emit.

Once again, probably more than you wanted to know - bottom line? Keep them away from your herps.

 

[dectr6]

Ladybugs are not safe for your chams. I know their poisionous, but not sure how lethal.

 

[Jordan]

From various stories I have heard no chameleon has actually attempted to eat them yet. On the other hand if you chameleon does the taste will most likely ensure that it doesn't happen again. Chameleons tend to know, whether instinct or trail and error.