How to Construct a Ladybug House

A ladybug house can welcome ladybugs to any garden.

Ladybugs are welcomed guests to any garden. They eat many different insects that are enemies of crop and landscape plants. They especially enjoy aphids and can consume more than 5,000 aphids in their three- to six-week lifetime. To attract ladybugs to the garden, a supply of insects needs to be available, along with some type of shelter. A ladybug house is a simple project that can be completed in a day. Place the finished shelter 1 to 2 feet above the ground on a pole in the garden.

Things You'll Need

• 3 cedar panels 5.5 inches by 5 inches, 3/4 inch thick
• 1 cedar panel 5.5 inches by 4 inches, 3/4 inch thick
• 2 cedar panels 5.5 inches by 2.5 inches, 3/4 inch thick
• 1 cedar panel 5.5 inches by 1 inch, 3/4 inch thick
• Box of finishing nails
• Hammer
• Small hinges
• Drill with drill bits that range from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch
• Paint or stain, optional
• Foam or bristle brush, optional

Instructions

1. 

   Cedar is a long-lasting wood that makes a wonderful ladybug house.

   Place a 5.5-inch by 5-inch piece of cedar flat on a work surface. Take a 5.5-inch by 2.5-inch piece of cedar and line up the 5.5-inch side with the piece of cedar on the work surface. Nail together through the back of the larger piece. Repeat this process on the other side of the larger piece using the other 2.5-inch-wide board. Once this is done, it should look like a U.

2. 

   Finishing nails are strong enough to hold the house together for many years.

   Attach one of the 5.5-inch by 5-inch pieces on the top of the short pieces, to form a rectangle, and the other 5.5-inch by 5-inch piece at the bottom of the rectangle, forming the base. Secure with nails.

3. Set the box up on its base and place the 5.5-inch by 1-inch piece of cedar inside. You can nail it to the front or back of the box or just lay it at an angle, so long as it creates two "rooms" in the house.

4. Attach one side of the hinges to the top of the box and the other side to the 5.5-inch by 4-inch piece of cedar, to form the top. The hinges should come with screws, which are what you use to connect them to the box.

5. 

   Different sizes of holes create openings where ladybugs can enter.

   Drill four or five holes ranging in size from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in the front and sides of house.

6. Add a finish to the house by either painting or staining it. Let it dry completely before putting it up in the garden.

References

• National Geographic: Ladybug
• The Cheap Vegetable Gardener: Build A Ladybug House
• butterflywebsite.com: Ladybug House Instructions