Overview

The Ladybug Raid refers to a series of viral videos by TikToker @arkeslo who in April 2022 purportedly bought and released 100 million ladybugs into New York City's Central Park, purchasing them for $75. After prompting his followers to comment "Ladybug Raid 👹," he stated that he'd actually released them, was allegedly charged with a lawsuit for environmental terrorism and then fled the country for Colombia to avoid house arrest. The stunt was originally performed in late 2020. In 2022, it was later revealed to be a hoax, perpetrated by verified TikToker h1t1.

History

On December 16th, 2020, TikToker^[1] wishlist18 posted a video that stated, "Hey TikTok So Apparently 100k Lady Bugs Costs Only $75… If this video gets 30 Likes I will Buy 100 Million Lady Bugs and do A Ladybug Invasion in NYC… Everyone Spam 'Ladybug Raid 👹' In the comments." Over the course of a year and a half, the video received roughly 8.8 million plays and 2 million likes (shown below).

Developments

Going into the remainder of December 2020, many TikTokers reacted to the Ladybug Raid with some trying to outline the negative effects that it would cause. For instance, on December 16th, 2020, TikToker^[2] hoppin_help posted a video about why the Ladybug Raid would be bad for the environment, earning roughly 29,600 plays and 1,300 likes in a year and a half (shown. below, left). On December 18th, 2020, TikToker^[3] nevadacassidy posted a green-screen reaction to the video by reading multiple comments. Her video received roughly 19,000 plays and over 380 likes in a year and a half (shown below, right).

On April 18th, 2022, TikToker^[4] arkeslo reposted wishlist18's 2020 video,^[1] presumably being the same creator using a different username. This time, the video received roughly 842,500 plays and 43,900 likes in four weeks (shown below, left).

Unlike in 2020, arkeslo actually followed through with his Ladybug Raid. On April 22nd, 2022, he posted a TikTok^[5] that showed thousands of ladybugs swarming rocks in a park, writing in text overlay, "Swarm 1 of 25,000 has been released in central park 👹." Over the course of three weeks, the video received roughly 2.6 million plays and 204,600 likes (shown below, right). Additionally, both videos used Bobby Schmuda's song, "Hot N*gga," as the audio.

Two days later, on April 24th, 2022, TikToker^[6] arkeslo posted another video, this time including a screenshot of a legal document that allegedly stated someone had filed a $350,000 lawsuit against him for releasing the ladybugs under, "The intent to Environmentally-terrorise New York in a vigilante matter." The TikTok received roughly 1.8 million plays and 91,200 likes in two and a half weeks (shown below, left).

On April 25th, TikToker^[7] arkeslo posted another video that showed himself at a cricket farm, attempting to right his wrong and appease the lawsuit by buying crickets so that they could eat the ladybugs. Additionally, the video included a screenshot of a flight from New York to Colombia, intending to show he'd be fleeing the country before a possible court date. Over the course of two and a half weeks, the video received roughly 1.3 million plays and 40,600 likes (shown below, right).

His account went dormant until May 2022, when on May 1st, TikToker^[8] arkeslo posted a video that showed his ankle with an ankle bracelet, indicating that he was on house arrest. Also in the video, he namedropped the TikToker wishlist18 as being the person who snitched on him. As stated, however, arkeslo and wishlist18 are most likely the same creator. Over the course of nine days, the video received roughly 1.3 million plays and 35,800 likes (shown below, left).

However, arkeslo's supposed house arrest didn't last long. On May 7th, 2022, he posted a TikTok^[9] that showed him cutting off his ankle bracelet and boarding a flight to Colombia, thereby escaping the country and his lawsuit/arrest. He ended the video with text overlay reading, "Colombia is my new home and I will be here for the next 5 years." Over the course of three days, the video received roughly 12.6 million plays and 1.7 million likes (shown below, right).

Spread

The mass engagement from the aforementioned May 7th, 2022, video brought the Ladybug Raid story to the attention of other platforms, as well as earned many reactions on TikTok from other creators. For instance, on May 8th, 2022, Twitter ^[10] user Simp4Sluts posted four screenshots of multiple Ladybug Raid TikToks, captioning them, "how is this real LMAO," earning roughly 481,900 likes in two days (shown below).

Ladybug Raid Hoax / @h1t1 on TikTok

Three months after his December 2020 video,^[1] on February 23rd, 2021, TikToker^[11] wishlist18 posted a video that showed his face and claimed he was not verified TikToker h1t1.^[12] However, the man in the video is obviously h1t1. Over the course of one year, the video received roughly 25,400 plays and over 700 likes (shown below). The resurfacing of this video in 2022 alluded to the fact that the April 2022 Ladybug Raid was most likely a hoax perpetuated by h1t1.

Search Interest

External References