Lovely Ladybirds

Why do we love ladybirds?

Much adored by savvy gardeners, the ladybird is the most popular form of natural pest control. Besides, these little bugs are actually cute!

Worldwide, there are probably 4,000 types of ladybirds, or ladybugs. About 400 species make North America their home.

The Convergent Lady Beetle is the most common variety. These dainty red bugs do gardeners a great service. They eat aphids, boll worms, cabbage moths, corn borers, mealy-bugs, mites, potato beetles, spider mites, whiteflies, and other soft-bodied, horticulturally harmful insects.

What is the ladybird life cycle?

Ladybirds first appear in the spring, when they emerge from dormancy to lay their eggs. A single female may lay up to 300 eggs at a time. Eggs generally take 3-5 days to hatch.

After hatching, the larvae will eat aphids for several weeks until pupating (like moths and butterflies) and maturing into adults. Maturation takes about four weeks.

The adults eat aphids all summer and fall before hibernating for the winter. A single ladybug may eat 5,000 insects in its lifetime.

How can you lure ladybirds to your garden?

You can actually purchase a supply of ladybirds. Look in garden supply catalogs and centers offer ladybugs for sale. About 1,500 ladybugs can cover an average home garden. A gallon of them can guard a full acre.

Once you have them, you simply sow your ladybirds into your garden, and watch them go to work.

Water your garden well before discharging your ladybirds. Wet leaves will entice them more.

Mist your ladybirds before sending them out. Create a concoction to keep them grounded for a day or two. Combine ½ cup of sweet sugared soda and ½ cup of lukewarm water. Use a spray bottle to dampen the ladybugs' wings.

Always release them at night. Try to plant your ladybirds in your garden on a cooler evening. In hot climates, refrigerate them for a few hours first, to chill them out and slow them down.

Ladybirds tend to be calmer in cooler temperatures, and they are not likely to relocate after dark. By morning, the females will have begun laying eggs among your plantings. Once they have done so, they will guard this territory carefully. This timing will encourage your ladybirds to stay in the vicinity where you placed them.

How can you keep your ladybirds from leaving home?

Once your ladybirds have wiped out all the pests that they like in your garden, they may begin looking elsewhere. How can you keep them from migrating next door?

You will want to encourage their environment. Ladybirds love to live among pollen-producing plants. Flowers with umbrella-like blossoms invite ladybirds to land. Their favorites include herbs (caraway, chamomile, cilantro, dill, fennel, mint, yarrow, and more) and flowers (such as balloon-flowers, coreopsis, cosmos, geraniums). Ladybirds love dandelions too, even if gardeners don't!

Avoid Asian beetles, which look a lot like ladybirds.

If you purchase ladybirds for your garden, be sure to select native species. While Asian Lady Beetles do consume and control aphids in your garden, they do not winter well. When the mercury drops, these critters head indoors and quickly become stinky, swarming pests.

Many talented gardeners have mistaken these nasty imposters for lovely ladybirds, much to their chagrin! Don't be fooled!

Ladybird, ladybird, make this your home.
Stay with my flowers, never to roam!