What Attracts Ladybugs
Ladybugs, also called ladybirds, are members of the Coccinellidae family and are found world-wide. There are more than 6,000 species of ladybugs, according to the University of Florida. Attracting these spotted beetles to your garden is worth some effort as they feed on garden pests such as aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, whiteflies and mites. Ladybugs are so successful at eliminating pests that gardeners and farmers buy them for biological control, or biocontrol. Does this Spark an idea?
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Pollen, Dense Foliage and Early Bloomers
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Ladybugs supplement their pest diets with pollen when pests are in short supply. Dense foliage shelters them when they are feeding, laying eggs and pupating. Some prime choices with good pollen and dense foiliage are calendula, commonly called pot marigold, chive, cilantro, cosmos, feverfew, butterfly weed and all varieties of mustard plants. Ladybugs also are attracted to early blooming plants such as buckwheat, coriander, red or crimson clover, and vetches.
Plants That Attract Pests and Their Prey
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Ladybugs are attracted to scented geraniums, among many other garden favorites. It stands to reason that plants that attract pests, particularly aphids, also will attract their prey. A ladybug can eat more than 5,000 aphids during its lifespan, according to the United Kingdom Ladybird Survey. Plants that are prime aphid and ladybug attractors include bronze fennel, dill, coriander, caraway, tansy, yarrow, wild carrot, coreopsis and scented geraniums. You may not want to add to your gardening problems with a weed, but dandelions also are favorite ladybug haunts.
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Spray-on Attractant
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Buy a spray-on attractant made up of wheast, a combination of whey and yeast. Wheast offers the ladybugs a good food source when they run out of nectar and aphids. They will stay around longer and it will stimulate them to lay more eggs. The wheast is mixed with an equal part of honey or sugar and water is added to make a thick paste. Use a paintbrush to apply the paste to wooden stakes and place them in your garden.
What to Avoid
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Avoid synthetic insecticides that also will kill ladybugs and ladybug larvae. Resist squishing eggs on the underside of plants as well, as ladybug eggs and larvae are hard to distinguish from their more harmful bug relatives.
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References
Resources
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