this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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It's a bad idea to release insects from unknown origin even if it's a species that's native. They can have significant genetic differences to the local populations to cause all sorts of problems.
Try attracting them instead by having flower meadows, etc.
asian lady beetle is pratically invasive. native parasitoids are probably better at controlling aphids.
I looked into ladybugs for aphids a few years ago and IIRC, if you can get them, they eat a ton in the larval stage. Also sometimes you go to release adults and they mostly just fly off instead of indulging in the feast you've presented.
at least half will just fly off. i do 3000 when the milkweed is about a foot tall. and the aphid population has become managble the past couple years. since i moved in 4 of the closest 6 houses have changed hands and all those new neighbors are gardeners. so if the bugs fly off and eat the aphids next door i'm ok with it.
Very cool!
What’s going on here?
Forgive the ignorance!
Lady Bugs brutally murdering aphids and other garden pests.
Did not know that was a thing! Sure beats chemical pesticides for naturalness AND cuteness 🌼
lady bugs are fantastic little murder machines.
OP released a bag full of ladybugs in the garden, likely to eat aphids before they eat the garden.
Godspeed, little ladybugs, may you find all the aphids!
Aren't those the Asian ladybugs that bite, invade homes, and smell?
these ones arn't native ro my area but they're not invasive. i've released them the past three years and they're chill. you can end up with a bag of the orangish fake ladybug if you go for the cheapest option on amazon though.
I dont remember what they looked like, but having been covered in thousands of lady bugs underneath a house to eventually find out they bite, oh do they bite, i never saw them the same again. Did it hurt? Not really but i had on a tie back suit. Without i would think it wouldnt feel so great getting bitten repeatedly.
I ended up soaking them down with commercial grade peroxide to get them off me.
Very interesting, in my garden the lady bugs seem to know exactly when to show up and I don't have to intervene
Any idea why yours don't?
urban deadzone with chemically sterilized turf lawns. five years ago ants, aphids and box-elder were the only insect in the yard. i've set up a couple rain water ponds and planted large sections of native flowers over the past couple years. insect diversity has drastically improved, i spotted half a dozen bumblebee queens zig zagging the yard this spring. set up long piles of last seasons plant cuttings for overwintering.
Hell yeah that's what we like
Got a good source for these?
Local gardening stores often carry ladybugs. I just bought some yesterday when buying some topsoil. The true value hardware store near me also stocks ladybugs.
Amazon, 3000 for $20! A few of them may even be alive!
Lol I found a place $15 for 1500, and it's not Amazon.
ladybugsdirect.com
Where does one find mercenary bugs to do one's bidding? Blamazon?
Amazon