Ladybugs

[celeste17]

Hi all-

I bought a container of Ladybugs at McLendon’s today and was wondering what they do to my plants? Will they make the plants healthier? Thanks

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[hammerhead]

They eat aphids plus they are just great to have in your yard.

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[christopherboffoli]

Celeste: How lucky you are! I’ve not been able to find them for a while now. Thanks for the tip. Hammerhead is right. They’re wonderful for aphid control. They’re also fun for some impromptu macro photography. Here are a couple images from a year ago. I sprinkled a bag of them around my garden and just went to work.

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[celeste17]

Well I got a container of them at the White Center McLendon’s for 10.25 today. They were located at the front door as you go inside. I spent way to much money the last couple of days at that store. :) I am addicted to pansies. Can’t wait to see what the lady bugs will do.

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[Jill]

Hi celeste17, Just to add to what the other two said, once you let your ladybugs loose, you’ll eventually also get some ladybug babies in your garden. Yay! :) I’m pointing out the obvious just because they look a little scary if you’re not familiar with them. Like little black alligators with reddish marks on them. But they’re even better for aphid control than the adults. If you get a chance, google for a photo of ladybug larvae so you don’t accidentally smoosh your next generation. :)

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[RainyDay1235]

West Seattle Nursery has ladybugs at the front counter. $9.99/bag I believe….

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[KatherineL]

Unfortunately, bought ladybugs tend to fly away when released. You may be doing your neighbors more a favor than yourself.

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[Que]

They will stay in your yard if you release them at dusk. Then they crawl out and immediately try to find a home to hunker down in and they stay there. If you release them during the day, then they fly around all day before bedtime and end up in other people’s yards.

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[KatherineL]

Good to know, Que. Is this something you’ve done yourself?

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[celeste17]

I read the instructions on the container and it said to release them at night after watering. I noticed today that there are still some around.

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[Que]

Yes I have. We have released ladybugs in years past and had very good luck with them finding little homes in our yard. In fact, we just planted a tomato plant in my raised bed and within 30 seconds, it already had a ladybug on it and we are still relying on the subsequent generations of ladybugs from last years bug release! They are great little aphid eaters!

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