It’s Ladybug Season Again!
Ladybugs are one of our favorite insects to see on the farm. Both the adults and larvae are very effective at eating aphids and other garden pests. Their populations peak during the Spring through late Summer, and we’ve recently noticed their numbers increasing.
We all recognize adult ladybugs, but the larvae are a little less recognizable, and they are just as good at eating aphids. The larvae are dark gray with little orange dots on their back and head, so when you see them in the garden, make sure to leave them alone (or carefully move them onto aphid populations).
If you want to increase ladybug populations in your own garden, there are a few simple things you can do. Many adult ladybugs eat pollen, so having a lot of pollen-producing flowers in your garden will help keep them around. Additionally, you should never spray pesticides (even organic ones) because these often hurt more than just the targeted pest. It also helps to have perennials, cover crops, and wild areas for them to lay eggs and pupate in. We are using all these strategies at City Farm, so hopefully we’ll have another summer full of these delightful little insects.
*We don’t recommend buying ladybugs from a nursery. There are several issues with ladybugs sold in nurseries. Almost all of them are harvested from the wilderness. They won’t be native to your region, so they will likely just fly away and may not even eat your pests. They can also spread diseases to your native ladybug populations.*
