Live ladybugs, often called lady beetles, offer a popular and environmentally conscious approach to managing garden pests. They are celebrated for their voracious appetite for soft-bodied pests like aphids, mealybugs, and mites, providing a natural alternative to chemical treatments. Understanding where to buy them and how to properly release them is paramount for successfully integrating these beneficial predators into a garden.
Locating Retailers and Suppliers
The most reliable source for obtaining healthy, fresh ladybugs is through online specialty suppliers, often called insectaries or biological control companies. These dedicated businesses typically ship the insects directly from collection or rearing facilities, ensuring better quality control and offering larger quantities. Online orders are usually shipped while the ladybugs are dormant and refrigerated, which helps them survive transit and reduces the urge to fly away upon arrival. These suppliers also frequently offer different species of beneficial insects.
Local garden centers and independent plant nurseries provide a convenient option for smaller purchases and immediate availability. However, the quality can vary depending on storage time and retail display conditions. It is better to select a container that has been kept cool, as ladybugs left at room temperature rapidly deteriorate and become stressed. Checking the packaging for signs of condensation or excessive dead insects helps gauge the stock’s freshness.
Seasonal availability is a factor when purchasing from larger big-box stores, as stock is often limited to peak gardening times in the spring and early summer. While accessible, handling practices at these locations might result in a less robust product compared to specialized vendors. Agricultural and farm supply stores are an excellent resource for gardeners needing bulk quantities, as they cater to commercial growers. Regardless of the retailer chosen, priority should be placed on a supplier who emphasizes cold storage and quick shipping to ensure the insects are active and viable upon opening.
Selecting the Right Species and Quantity
While many retailers sell a generic “ladybug,” the species most commonly available in North America is the Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens). This species is highly effective because both the adult beetles and their larvae are strong predators of soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids. The Convergent Lady Beetle is distinguished by two white, converging lines on the black section just behind its head. Although this species tends to disperse after release, it remains the standard choice for garden pest control due to its availability and broad diet.
Determining the correct quantity is important to ensure effective pest management without immediate dispersal. For a small home garden or a single, heavily infested shrub, a package containing approximately 1,500 ladybugs is often recommended for one application. For larger garden plots or widespread infestations, gardeners might purchase a quart, which can contain an estimated 18,000 beetles. The goal is to provide a sufficient predator-to-prey ratio, ensuring the ladybugs have an immediate and ample food source to encourage them to stay and lay eggs.
Upon receiving the ladybugs, a quick quality check is advised before release. The insects should appear mostly dormant or sluggish due to the cold shipping environment. A healthy shipment will have minimal dead beetles, and the live ones should begin to show movement within a few minutes of warming slightly. If a large number of beetles are dead or appear overly weak, the shipment may have been compromised during transit or storage.
Handling and Successful Release
Proper handling and release techniques increase the likelihood that the ladybugs will remain in your garden rather than immediately flying away. When the package arrives, place it immediately into refrigeration (ideally between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit) to keep the beetles dormant. This temporary storage calms the insects after their journey and conserves their energy until release. If stored correctly, they can often be kept for a few days, or up to a week, before being released.
The most effective time to release the ladybugs is just before dusk or in the early evening. Ladybugs cannot fly when temperatures drop, and releasing them at this time forces them to settle in your garden overnight. This extended period allows them to become acclimated to the environment and find food and water before they can take flight the following morning.
Before releasing the beetles, pre-water the affected area by misting the plants and surrounding soil. Ladybugs are often thirsty after storage and shipping, and providing moisture encourages them to stay. The beetles should be released in small batches directly at the base of infested plants or near visible pest clusters. They will instinctively crawl upward to search for prey, allowing them to begin feeding immediately. Some gardeners also lightly spray the beetles with a sugar-water solution upon release, as the stickiness can temporarily impede their ability to fly, further encouraging them to feed and settle.