How to Keep Ladybugs in Your Garden
Ladybugs are a type of beetle, properly named the Ladybird Beetle. They benefit your garden by eating plant-destroying bugs such as aphids and mites, and soft-bodied insects such as tomato and broccoli worms. You may purchase ladybugs for release into your bug-ravaged garden, but before you do, take measures to ensure they stay, rather than fly off to a neighbor's yard. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Stop the use of insecticide and wash off any that may be present. Inspect the plants to see if there are aphids there for the ladybugs to eat. Once you are certain there are no toxins present and plenty of food, purchase the ladybugs.
-
2
Release the ladybugs in the evening. They do not fly at night, and are less active when it is cooler.
-
-
3
Spray the ladybugs with sugar water or a half-and-half mixture of soda pop and water immediately prior to their release. This makes their wings too sticky to fly for several days. While they are unable to fly, they lay eggs in your garden. The location in which ladybugs hatch becomes their home base.
-
4
Purchase ladybug food. Ladybug food may be purchased where the beetles are sold. Ladybugs also eat pollen and like many flowers, including marigolds, cosmos, dill, fennel and geraniums. They also like dandelions, so consider allowing a patch to grow near your garden.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Familiarize yourself with the appearance of ladybug larvae so you don't inadvertently kill them.
Once ladybugs have rid the garden of plant-eating bugs, they will travel elsewhere in search of food unless you keep them fed.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
