I'm curious if buying ladybugs or other beneficial insects is a good strategy for managing pests in my garden. Have any of you tried it? How effective is it really?
3 Answers
Instead of buying ladybugs, I just focus on creating a welcoming environment for native beneficial insects. I plant a variety of flowers that attract these little critters. I've seen lacewing eggs for sale at garden stores if you're interested. It's also good to check with your local extension office for tips on attracting beneficial insects without having to buy them!
I've had great success using ladybugs, especially for getting rid of aphids! They’re pretty effective as long as you have a proper setup for them to thrive. Just keep in mind that they might not stick around forever, particularly if conditions aren’t right, like if it's too dry indoors or if they're outdoors and just fly off. If they manage to breed, though, they'll really help tackle those aphids!
I tried using ladybugs to control an aphid problem last year but it didn't go as planned. Unfortunately, most of them flew away since ants were protecting the aphids. It taught me a lesson! I ended up having to deal with the ants first using poison, but eventually, native predators showed up and took care of the aphids once the ants were gone. This time around, I’m already preparing with ant traps!
Ugh, that sounds frustrating! I think next time I’d focus on getting rid of potential ant issues before introducing ladybugs.
That's a smart approach! Keeping things natural can definitely help create a thriving ecosystem in your garden.