SWARMS of unsightly and sometimes stinky beetles have residents of one Midwestern town complaining.

Over the past few days residents in Youngstown, Ohio, say outside of their homes have been surrounded by insects that are often mistakenly identified as ladybugs, CBS local affiliate WKBN reported.

While the Asian lady beetle bears a striking resemblance to ladybugs, it is actually an invasive species of beetle from Asia.

Asian lady beetles are sometimes called “Halloween beetles” because they usually attack homes when the temperatures cool down during the month of October in search of warmth in sheltered areas.

Another feature of the Asian lady beetle that likens it to fall’s spooky season is that they range in color from orange, yellow, and sometimes red, whereas ladybugs are always bright red.

Other subtle distinctions between the two species of beetles include differences in size. Asian lady beetles are often larger than ladybugs.

Another variation is that ladybugs always have spots, but the Asian lady beetle might not. Also, ladybugs are round in shape while the lady beetle is more oval.

And, between the two only the Asian lady beetle has an eerie white “M” on its head.

Read Related Also: Gaza ‘will soon be a tent city’ says Israeli official

But the most obvious difference is that the Asian lady beetle tends to swarm buildings seeking heat when the weather turns colder.

There are two reasons why they do this. The first is that Asian lady beetles emit pheromones that attract other beetles. The other is that the beetles often look for structures that are light in color.

A good way to prevent the beetles from getting into your house is to properly seal any cracks in windows or walls.

Lady beetles can become especially problematic during the winter because they will often crowd warm surfaces around the house. And, if given the opportunity they will even invade your home.

Although the Asian lady beetle is an invasive species, they are relatively harmless. But it’s important to note that they do bite. The effect on the skin is minimal. The beetles do not cause harm to plants either. In fact, they can help by feasting on aphids.

If you notice a foul smell, the critters can emit the odor if they feel threatened.

The lady beetle immigrated to the United States by traveling from Asia. Still, the beetle population did not become established for some time.

After many failed attempts to establish colonies in the US a population near New Orleans, Louisiana, was finally established around 1988.

The beetles quickly made their way across state lines and eventually made it to the Midwest where they became established by the year 2000.