Several towns in Arad county, Western Romania, are facing an invasion of ladybugs, people gathering thousands of such insects from their homes, reports local Mediafax. According to the experts, the phenomenon is rare and is caused by high temperatures.

Locals from the town of Lipova and several villages are complaining that in recent days ladybugs invaded the streets and even their homes and gardens, since the temperature went up to 20 degrees Celsius during the day, which is unusually high for this time of year.

Mircea Jichici, the mayor of Lipova, said that there have been similar invasions in spring and autumn, but that people never faced such a large number of ladybugs, reports Mediafax.

“The forest is close to the town and that’s where they come from,” said the mayor.

Specialists say that these insects banish pests of plants, being beneficial to crops. They believe that the number of ladybugs increased because of the summer rains.

Locals hope that the problem will be solved once the temperatures start dropping, but meanwhile, the mayor of Lipova announced that the local authorities will use insecticides to keep things under control.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com