JOE KOVACH HAS built a better ladybug trap - simple and inexpensive to make — and Ohioans may soon beat a path to his door, or at least to his Web site.

Kovach, coordinator of the Integrated Pest Management program, and colleagues recently developed and evaluated a new home trap for multicolored Asian lady beetles - just one part of a much wider program aimed at the non-native bugs.

In the past 10 years, multicolored Asian lady beetles have become a major headache. Hundreds or even thousands of them swarm into people's homes in fall. Living, crawling clusters form in attics, corners and basements.

Until now, the bugs were thought to be simply a nuisance. But research by Kovach and team showed that 25 percent of the people who live with high populations of multicolored Asian lady beetles report an allergic reaction to them.

Furthermore, it's also now known that the beetles bite people, although, fortunately, not too often. "I've been bitten," Kovach said. "It felt like someone dragging a pin on my arm, like a cat scratch."

The new trap requires less than $10 worth of materials. It catches about 70 percent of the lady beetles in a room, which can add up to an awful lot of lady beetles. (Commercial traps, around $175 and up to 99 percent effective, also are available.)

Plans are available from the IPM program, (330) 263-3846, from county Extension offices, and at http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ipm/lady/blt1.htm.