Sometimes called a gardener’s best friend, ladybugs may look adorable, but they are incredibly efficient predatory insects that feed on a number of common garden pests. Aphids and other soft-bodied insects are no match for hungry ladybugs, and a single ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids a day! If you have aphids running amok on your roses or mealybugs gathering on your flowers, ladybugs can help.
If you’re lucky, ladybugs may already be policing your garden for pests, but if you don’t have a local population of ladybugs for pest control, you may need to take matters into your own hands. Creating a pollinator habitat with plants known to attract ladybugs is one way to lure these beneficial insects to your garden. However, if you’re struggling with pests and you need to control them fast, you can also release ladybugs into your garden.
Releasing ladybugs may sound simple, but there are a few important steps you’ll need to follow to get the most out of your ladybugs and keep them from flying away from your garden. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to order and release ladybugs for natural pest control.
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Why release ladybugs in the garden?
Ladybugs are charming insects with brightly colored bodies that can delight any garden visitor. But beyond their beauty, ladybugs are incredibly useful insects, and they can naturally control plant pests, like aphids and mealybugs, and improve the overall health of your vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Today, with bee and other pollinator populations on the decline, many gardeners are swapping out chemical pesticides for natural pest control options that don’t harm bees and other non-target insects. Ladybugs are one great tool to add to your organic gardening arsenal as they control pests all naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
Beyond pest control, ladybugs can also pollinate plants, increasing genetic diversity and boosting crop yields. While ladybugs are mostly known for being predatory insects, they also feed on plant pollen and nectar and can pollinate a variety of edible plants, including squash, melons, grapes, and sunflowers.
What pests do ladybugs eat?
Ladybugs, also known as ladybird beetles or lady beetles, are a diverse group of insects and a common visitor to backyard gardens. There are over 6000 different types of ladybugs globally, with some species native to North America, Europe, and other continents. These insects are mostly active from spring through fall and then hibernate in winter, overwintering under rocks or logs or even in your home!
Different ladybugs may feed on different pests, but in general, most ladybugs are known for their ability to control:
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Whiteflies
- Thrips
- Cabbage loopers
- Spider mites
- Corn borers
- Colorado potato beetle larvae
- Asparagus beetle larvae
- Chinch bugs
Both ladybug adults and larvae are excellent predators, and they can salvage ornamental and edible plants from destructive pests. In the course of its lifetime, a single ladybug can eat up to 5000 insects. Since you can purchase ladybugs for release in packages of 1000 or more, imagine how many pests you can control with these natural eating machines!
Where to buy ladybugs?
Growing the right companion plants in your garden can naturally attract ladybugs, but if you need ladybugs immediately for pest control, buying them is sometimes the best option. In general, ladybugs can be purchased online or at your local garden center, but it’s important to only purchase ladybugs from reliable suppliers.
Storebought ladybugs can sometimes have parasites that can be introduced into wild ladybug populations when ladybugs are released for pest control. To avoid this, if possible, only purchase ladybugs from suppliers who farm or raise their ladybugs indoors in a controlled environment. This will limit the potential for parasites and help to ensure that the ladybugs you purchase are healthy and ready to rid your garden of pests!
What to do with ladybugs after they arrive
Ladybugs purchased online are usually kept in cold storage before they’re shipped, which keeps them in a state of dormancy. When ladybugs are shipped to your home, they’ll likely arrive in fine mesh bags, and you may notice that they’re languid. This is usually because the ladybugs are coming out of hibernation, and it’s totally normal!
If possible, ladybugs should be released in your garden as soon as they arrive at your home, but sometimes that’s not realistic. If you can’t release ladybugs right away, store them in your refrigerator (not freezer!) to keep them inactive. Storing ladybugs in your fridge can also allow you to release them little by little in your garden if you don’t have time to spread them out all at once.
The drawback to storing ladybugs in your fridge is that they won’t have as much time in your garden to control pests. Ladybugs can also be thirsty after shipping, so you may need to mist them gently when they arrive or if you store them in your fridge for an extended period of time. When kept cool (temperatures between 35 and 40ºF are ideal), ladybugs can remain in your fridge for several weeks, but they shouldn’t be stored for more than one month.
When should ladybugs be released?
If you notice aphids and other pests congregating on your plants, you’ll want to act fast and take precautions to mitigate pest damage. And one way to do that is to release ladybugs!
Ladybugs can be released at the first sign of pests, or you can release them before you notice pests in your garden. That said, ladybugs are more likely to fly away from your garden if there isn’t a ready source of food, so you may want to wait until you actually see aphids to purchase ladybugs.
Ladybugs can be released when the weather is warm, but you’ll get the best results if you release them in either spring or early summer. This will give the ladybugs more time to control pests in your garden, and it will also allow them to get established before winter arrives.
You can release ladybugs in the early morning when the weather is cool, but you’ll have better results if you wait until evening. When released at this time of the day, ladybugs are more likely to stick around your garden; however, if you put ladybugs out in the heat of the day, they’ll usually fly away!
If possible, release ladybugs right after heavy rain when there are still plenty of raindrops left on your plants. This will ensure that thirsty ladybugs can find something to drink as soon as possible. You can also water your garden well before you place ladybugs outdoors and get a similar result.
Finally, you can release ladybugs all at once or place a handful of them out at a time over the course of several hours. This is a great idea because ladybugs are territorial, and they’re more likely to fly away if they encounter large groups of their own species!
How to release ladybugs
To release ladybugs, all you need to do is carefully cut open the package your ladybugs arrived in and then gently spread the ladybugs over your plants. Take care not to crush the ladybugs in the process, and use gentle movements that are less likely to frighten the insects and cause them to fly.
Sprinkle the ladybugs over infected plants or flower beds and vegetable gardens that you’d like to protect from insects. Then step back and let the ladybugs do their work! If you have established an organic garden with plenty of flowering plants and other features pollinators love, there’s a good chance that ladybugs will thrive in your garden.
But while releasing ladybugs for pest control isn’t difficult, the real trick is getting ladybugs to stick around your garden after you put them outdoors. After shipping, most ladybugs are stressed, and they’re naturally inclined to fly away as soon as they’re released. But if you paid money for these beneficial insects, you’ll actually want them to stay in your garden to keep pests in line!
To make your ladybug release go more smoothly and to encourage ladybugs to stay in your garden, follow these simple guidelines:
- Release ladybugs at the right time.
If you let ladybugs go during the day, they’ll usually fly away without nibbling on a single aphid in your garden! However, if you release ladybugs in the evening, they’ll be less likely to fly, and they’ll usually settle into your garden quickly to sleep before night falls. In the morning, the ladybugs will be more acclimated to your space, and they’ll often begin to forage for pests on their own.
- Locate your ladybugs near pest insects.
Ladybugs go where the food is, and if they can’t find any pests, they’ll likely leave. That’s why it’s best to release ladybugs near plants with active pest infestations.
- Put ladybugs near flowers.
While ladybugs often prey on pests, they can also feed on the pollen and nectar in flowers. So, if you don’t see any pests in your garden, try releasing ladybugs near your flower beds. Ladybugs left out in the middle of grass lawns are much more likely to leave than ladybugs placed in lush flower beds.
- Give ladybugs a nutrient boost.
When you first leave ladybugs out in your garden, they’ll usually be very hungry and thirsty. Placing a dab of honey on a few index cards in your flower beds can give ladybugs a quick snack and boost their energy levels too. While this isn’t strictly necessary, it’s just another way to encourage ladybugs to stay in your garden!
- Provide ladybugs with water.
Releasing ladybugs right after rain or after you have watered your garden is always recommended. After shipping or storage, ladybugs are usually quite thirsty, and they can fly away from your garden in search of water. But if you provide them with moist plants to drink from, ladybugs will be more inclined to stay around.
- Keep ladybugs cool.
Storing ladybugs in your refrigerator before you release them will help to keep your ladybugs in tip-top shape, but it will also slow the ladybugs down, making them less likely to flee when they’re placed outside. Just make sure you keep ladybugs in your fridge, not your freezer, and don’t store them for longer than a few weeks.
- Consider adding a box.
While it isn’t strictly necessary, you can place a box over your ladybugs after releasing them in your garden to discourage them from flying. Leaving the box in place overnight will help the ladybugs settle in. In the morning, remove the box and let your ladybugs get to work controlling gardening pests!
- Go slow.
Ladybugs are territorial insects, and they’re more likely to fly away if they are released in large groups. To avoid this, consider only releasing a handful of ladybugs at a time and wait an hour or so before releasing the next batch. This will allow the initial ladybugs to spread out a bit before you add more to your garden.
- Spread out the ladybugs.
Another way to avoid territoriality in ladybugs is to disperse these insects throughout your garden beds. Rather than dumping the entire bag of ladybugs on your rosebush, scatter a few ladybugs on your roses and other ornamentals, place some more in your herb pots and release the remainder in your vegetable garden. This will give ladybugs more variety of foods to eat, and it will also make ladybugs less stressed and less likely to flee.
How to keep ladybugs in your garden
If you follow the suggestions above, ladybugs will be more likely to stay in your garden to control pest insects and pollinate your plants. But if you want to get ladybugs to stay in your yard for the long haul or if you’d like to attract wild ladybugs to your garden, there are a few other steps to try.
Growing native plants and plants that are rich in nectar and pollen is one good way to lure ladybugs and other beneficial insects to your space. What plants are native to your area will depend on your growing zone, but you can use helpful websites like this one to find the best native plants for your garden.
Beyond native plants, flowering herbs, like dill, fennel, and cilantro, are also highly attractive to ladybugs, and growing them in your garden may attract wild ladybugs to your property. Flowering plants like yarrow, milkweed, tansy, angelica, and scented geranium are also a hit with ladybugs, and they’re great plants to grow in pollinator habitats too.
Like other animals, ladybugs also need a steady supply of fresh water to keep them happy. If you water your garden regularly, this is often enough to maintain ladybug populations. You can also add a shallow dish of water to your garden and fill it with clean pebbles or marbles to keep ladybugs and other pollinators from falling in.
And, of course, if you want ladybugs to take up residence in your garden, opt for organic gardening methods whenever possible. If you’re already using ladybugs for pest control, you’re well on your way to keeping an organic garden, but you may also want to try out floating row covers, crop rotation, and companion planting to keep pests in line!
Frequently asked questions
The number of ladybugs you’ll need to control pests will depend on the number of pest insects on your plants and the size of your garden. For a small garden, plan on ordering about 2,000 ladybugs. Larger gardens, however, may require up to 18,000 ladybugs for pest control.
Absolutely! Ladybugs are some of the most efficient natural pest control options around, and they can keep destructive insects in check in both ornamental and vegetable gardens.
If you’re noticing a lot of ladybugs in your garden, it may mean that you have an infestation of aphids or other pests that ladybugs feed on. Alternatively, ladybugs often congregate in autumn as they prepare for winter hibernation. So if you’re seeing a lot of ladybugs at the end of the season, they’re likely just looking for winter shelter.
Ladybugs will often lay their eggs on plants with aphid or pest infections to provide food for their developing young. Flat-topped plants, like dill and fennel, are also highly attractive to ladybugs, as are flowers with large volumes of nectar and pollen, such as hibiscus, tansy, yarrow, feverfew, coreopsis, cosmos, and sunflowers.
No! Ladybugs pose no threat to your garden plants, tomatoes included. While ladybugs do feed on nectar and pollen, they won’t damage plants, and they are actually excellent pollinators!
An average ladybug can live between 1 and 2 years. These insects often hibernate over the winter in rotted logs, under stones, or in warm corners of your home!
Summary
Releasing ladybugs into your garden is an easy, all-natural way to reduce pest insects, like aphids. But if you want ladybugs to stick around, it’s important to provide them with the proper habitat and plenty of food sources. Building a pollinator garden is one way to make a ladybug-friendly habitat, and, the added benefit is, that these gardens will also attract other beneficial insects to your space.
After spreading ladybugs in your backyard, some ladybugs will inevitably journey elsewhere, but if you have a good food source in your garden, many ladybugs should stay in your space. However, if notice ladybugs leaving, it may signify that your pest problem is under control and the ladybugs need to look elsewhere for aphids. If that’s the case, pat yourself on the back, because you’ve successfully utilized beneficial insects to keep your garden pest free!
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