How to Build a Ladybug House Outdoors

Ladybugs are more than just cute creatures, they're also great at pest-control.

If you are looking for an inexpensive, environmentally-friendly way to control pests in your garden, the perfect answer is a ladybug house. Ladybugs have been the gardener's friend for centuries, not only because they are so darn cute, but because they are a natural predator of aphids. It's been estimated that just one ladybug can eat nearly 5,000 aphids in its short lifetime. Build a small shelter for ladybugs to encourage them to visit your yard for a quick snack and also take up residence there.

Things You'll Need

• 1 piece of 1 inch by 6 inch hardwood, such as cedar, 2 feet in length
• Saw
• Sandpaper
• 12 finishing nails
• Hammer
• 1 1/2 inch hinge with screws
• Screwdriver
• Power drill with 1/2 to 3/4 inch drill bit
• Light blue paint
• Small paintbrush

Instructions

1. 

   Saw the wood into pieces for the house.

   Saw the wood into three 5 inch lengths (these will be the front, back and bottom of the house), one 4 inch length (this will be the top of the house), two 3 inch lengths (these will be the sides of the house), and one 1 inch length (this will be used as a room separator inside the house). Discard any leftover wood or save it for another project.

2. 

   Sand the rough ends of the wood pieces.

   Sand the rough ends of each piece of wood.

3. 

   Nail the side piece into place with a hammer.

   Stand one of the side pieces (3 inches in length) on its end so that it is standing 5 1/2 inches from top to bottom. Stand the back of the house (one of the 5 inch pieces) on its end as well, so that the side piece is butting up against the back piece. Nail the side piece into place on the back piece using the hammer to insert one nail at the top of the back piece and one nail at the bottom of the back piece.

4. 

   Put a nail at the bottom of the back piece.

   Place the other 3 inch side piece against the back piece in the same manner as the first side piece, but at the other end of the back piece. Nail it into place using a nail at the top of the back piece and a nail at the bottom of the back piece.

5. Turn the house so that it is laying on its back with the sides sticking straight up.

6. Lay the front of the house (5 inch piece of wood) on top of the sides and attach it with a nail at the top of each end of the front and a nail at the bottom of each end of the front.

7. Turn the ladybug house upright (so the open ends are at the bottom and the top).

8. Place the bottom piece (the remaining 5 inch piece of wood) on top of the house, matching up the edges. There will be a 2 inch over-hang on the front. Nail the bottom piece into place with a nail in each of the four corners of the walls.

9. Turn the house over so that the remaining opening is on top.

10. Screw one side of the hinge to the middle of the top edge of the back wall of the house.

11. Screw the other side of the hinge to the middle of the top edge of the roof piece (the 4 inch piece). Remember that there will be a 1 inch overhang on the front of the house.

12. Drill at least two holes, off-center from each other, in the front of the house with the drill.

13. Paint the outside of the house with the paint and paintbrush. Allow to dry completely.

14. Place the room divider inside the house before closing the lid. It will not fit perfectly to stand upright, but it is okay for it to be leaning at an angle. Be sure to place it so that the ladybugs can move between rooms.

15. Place your ladybug house in your garden near aphid problem areas.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any color of paint you like, but the ladybugs seem to be attracted most to light blue shades.

• Place the house on a flat surface, if possible, or attach it to a short pole to keep it up out of water. It should be 1 to 2 feet off the ground.

• Put a small piece of sponge soaked in sugar water inside the house to attract the ladybugs.

References

• National Geographic.com: Ladybugs
• The Cheap Vegetable Gardner: Build a Ladybug House
• butterflywebsite.com: Ladybug House Instructions
• Phyllis Cross, sales associate; Town and Country Garden Center; Pocatello, Idaho

Resources

• Ladybugs (Minibeasts); Claire Llewellyn; March 2002