When Kentucky homeowner Jason Whitaker began noticing a faint burning smell in his house, he assumed it was something minor — perhaps a kitchen appliance or wiring issue. But after searching every room, he discovered something far more unusual. One of his spiral light bulbs had begun to smolder, sending off that telltale scent of an electrical fire. When he unscrewed the bulb to investigate, the cause left him stunned.
Inside the bulb’s spiral base was a nest of tiny ladybugs. Over several years, the insects had crawled into the narrow coils, drawn by the warmth and light. As their numbers grew, the buildup began to trap heat, eventually causing the bulb to overheat. Jason realized just how close his family had come to disaster — a few more hours, and it could have easily sparked a fire.
Acting quickly, he replaced every similar bulb in the house and shared his experience on Facebook as a warning. “These light bulbs will burn your house down — please check yours,” he wrote. The post quickly went viral, with more than 430,000 shares and hundreds of comments from others who had found similar issues. Many thanked him for raising awareness about a hazard few had ever considered.
Experts later confirmed that while compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are generally safe, dust or insect buildup can restrict airflow and cause dangerous overheating. Their advice is simple but vital: regularly inspect light fixtures, especially older bulbs, and replace any that show signs of wear or damage. As Jason learned firsthand, a quick check can make all the difference — and may even save your home.