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I love when wildlife visits my little balcony garden. Well, at least wildlife that doesn’t destroy my little garden and leave it a mess. Today I want to talk to you all about how to use ladybugs in the garden.
What is a Ladybug?
The ladybug, also known as Coccinellidae, is a small beetle that can be 0.8 to 18 millimeters long. These little beetles are known as ladybirds in Great Britain. They are also quite popular in the United States and other countries.
Little Ladybug Facts
Below are some interesting facts about ladybugs. Enjoy!
- Ladybugs can live for only a year.
- There are over 5,000 different species of ladybugs in the world.
- Some ladybugs are different colors, besides the common black and red.
- Sometimes ladybugs will eat each other to stay alive.
- These insects are named after the Virgin Mary.
- Some types of ladybugs are pests.
- Ladybugs eat all kinds of insects.
- These insects are used as pest control by many farmers.
- There are over 450 species of ladybugs just in North American alone.
Different Types of Ladybugs.
As mentioned in the facts above, there are some different types of ladybugs found all over the world. The most common are the ladybugs in red with black dots. Below are some of the different types of ladybugs that can be found.
California Ladybug– I made this first for various reasons :). This ladybug is red with no black spots on its body.
Convergent Ladybug-The main color of this ladybug is orange with black spots. It can be found in Pacific coastal areas.
Seven-spotted Ladybug-The seven-spotted ladybug has a red body with black dots. Two white dots are on the head of this ladybug. It is originally from Europe.
Vedalia Ladybug-This ladybug has a black body with red spots. It is the first ladybug to find its way to the United States.
Asian Ladybug-Despite its name, this ladybug is a very common type found in the United States. It is relatively larger than other types. It is can be found in orange, yellow, or red with five black spots.
How to Use Ladybugs in the Garden
Do you want to get rid of aphids and other garden pests from your garden? Introduce ladybugs into your garden and they will eat those pests. Ladybugs will also eat spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, mealybugs, and scale.
Where to Find Ladybugs
Did you know you can purchase ladybugs to release in your garden and keep pests away? You can buy a bunch of ladybugs and release them in your garden. Also, you can attract ladybugs with the right plants grown in your garden.
Attracting Ladybugs to the Garden
You can attract ladybugs to your garden by growing the right types of plants. Plants that ladybugs are attracted to include:
- Cosmos
- Marigold
- Calendula
- Yarrow
- Nasturtium
- Chives
- Sweet Alyssum
- Cilantro
Pick one or a few of these plants to grow and see what happens! How do you use ladybugs in your garden? Let me know in the comments section below!
Alice V-DIYerfy says
interesting post. I neve knew there were so many kinds of lady bugs but I did know you can buy them but I never knew where to buy them either.
Ann says
There are many more ladybugs I didn’t mention. I’m so used to seeing the red ones with black dots around here. Thanks for stopping by!
Julie says
Did you know we call them ladybirds here in the UK? We do realise they are not birds so it makes no sense but there you go!!
I know they are great garden friends so these ideas to encourage them are helpful.
Ann says
I did! I’m sure there is a reason they are called ladybirds over there. I’m glad you found this post helpful and thank you for visiting!
sheri says
Great info! Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Link Party. I pinned this to Pinterest! Hope you can join us again next week.
Ann says
Thank you for stopping by and pinning my post! See you at the party next week!