Release invasive garden intruders by acquiring ladybugs from these specified retailers
Got a Garden Infested? Ladybugs to the Rescue!
Gardeners, we feel ya! nothing more frustrating than seeing your precious plants devoured by aphids, mites, and mealybugs. When colonies grow dense, it's time to take action. Enter ladybugs, decked out in all their vibrant, spotty glory.
Natural pest control is more eco-friendly and provides long-term benefits for your garden. Instead of resorting to chemical concoctions, here's a fantastic solution: attract ladybugs to your yard.
Ladybugs, or lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens), are the best-known garden predators. They chow down on a buffet of pests like aphids, mites, thrips, and mealybugs. Here are six ways to lure these garden ninjas to your plants:
Why Ladybugs are the Key to Natural Pest Control
Professional gardener Drew Swainston, the Content Editor at Homes & Gardens, shed some light on this:
"Ladybugs are fantastic at controlling pests with their insatiable appetite. They'll munch on thousands of aphids, mites, leafhoppers, and more throughout their lifetime," he explains.
The presence of ladybugs JACKPOT among gardeners, as they "help control pest populations and keep your plants thriving. Physically having ladybugs doing their thing and eating pests is a much better option than reaching for a bottle of chemicals to solve pest problems." Additionally, as they flit from blossom to blossom in search of food, ladybugs lend a helping hand with pollination.
In summary, we're welcoming ladybugs with open arms to our green spaces this year. These darlings can be utilized in gardens, greenhouses, indoor grows, lawns, orchards, vineyards—essentially, any greenery-filled nook you've got.
So, here's where to shop for live ladybugs:
Drew is a Gardening Expert and Content Editor for Homes & Gardens. He's previously been a professional gardener, working at the famed arts and crafts garden Hidcote Manor Garden, and spending several years at Hanbury Hall Gardens.
6 Places to Buy Live Ladybugs
- This online retailer offers an array of bag sizes for ladybugs—from a manageable 150 up to 72,000, making it an ideal choice for both small and expansive gardens.
- Order ladybugs by the bag of 3,000 from Amazon for a wallet-friendly price. These have garnered excellent reviews. The company recommends keeping them cool until the evening or early morning before releasing. (Pro tip: don't let them loose when it's terribly hot.)
- Another reliable source for live ladybugs, these little champions will devour around 5,000 aphids and start breeding the next generation of larvae. They'll also eat spider mites, whitefly, scale, and many other pest insects. This approach cuts out the middleman, as the company sources the ladybugs directly and ships them to your doorstep.
- These ladybugs are given a feeding and hydration boost before being shipped to you, ensuring they arrive fit and ready for action. Moisten the plant foliage before their arrival, and you'll have a thriving little army ready to combat pests immediately.
- Consider purchasing a lure instead, or as well as live ladybugs. These bad boys use a combination of pheromones and botanicals to attract ladybugs to your garden. It broadcasts a strong signal to ladybugs that there are tasty plant-feeders just waiting for them, prompting their arrival.
- Green lacewings or green lacewing larvae are another option worth considering. Since these critters team up well with ladybugs, they'll both feed on aphids and other soft-bodied pest insects. One green lacewing larva can knock back 60 aphids daily. Each female can lay up to 200 eggs, ensuring a steady cycle of pest control.
[1] Kowalchuk, K. (2017). Spreading the Love for Ladybugs. Horticulture Review. https://www.canadianturfgrass.org/documents/vol66/Horticulture_Review_Vol.66_No.2_Kowalchuk_2017.pdf
[2] The Xerces Society (2020). Garden Resources for Pollinators. https://xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/xerces/assets/ docs/resources/pollinator_gardens_pamphlet.pdf
[3] Frey, S.E., & Gill, J.W. (2014). Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
[4] Gish, A.F., & Gish, D.H. (2000). Biological Control for the Small-Acreage Farm. updated by E.I. March MacDougald. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
- By attracting ladybugs to your garden, you're not only enhancing the natural pest control but also boosting your home-and-garden lifestyle and gardening ambiance with the vibrant spotted creatures.
- Consequently, the addition of ladybugs to your greenhouses, lawns, orchards, or any other greenery-filled nook can make a significant difference in your ongoing quest for a lush, pest-free home-and-garden lifestyle.
