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Ladybugs swarming in U.S. South in big numbers

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NASHVILLE, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The ladybug population in central Tennessee has ballooned this year, an entomologist says.

The brightly colored little beetles are swarming as they do in the fall, inundating homes in the area, WTVF in Nashville reported. David Cook, an entomologist with the Davidson County Extension Service, said the bugs, or Asian ladybeetles, are just searching for a warm place to hole up.

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"We have perfect weather conditions, and a large food population," Cook said. "This is a perfect insect storm."

Diane Stroud of Lebanon told the television station the number that suddenly appeared around her house was a surprise.

"We were just sitting at home and noticed a few outside," she said. "We went out to look and there were tons flying around. We were really shocked."

Cook said the swarms will vanish with a couple of hard frosts. He also predicted numbers will be smaller next year since the population tends to dip after a big ladybug year.

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