10 Benefits of Ladybugs and How to Attract Them

Known in most countries as ladybugs, these lovelies are not bugs. Scientists list them as beetles, so their proper names are lady beetles or ladybird beetles.

Lady bugs are found in the Coccinellidae family, class (Insecta), and order (Coleoptera), of which there are approximately 5000 species of them [1].

Lifecycle

The lifespan of ladybugs is one to two years, though they may live longer out in the wild.

Yellow, oblong eggs are laid in clusters on the underside of leaves, in or near the colonies of aphids and other soft-bodied insects. This is to ensure the larvae have plenty of food when they first hatch.

The larvae eat and thrive in a span of 21 to 30 days, and then, they pupate. After that, they emerge as adults in not more than 15 days, depending on climate and species, and are ready to mate not long after.

Ladybug Benefits

What are they good for? Most are quite beneficial to people, whether they are farmers, gardeners, or just the ordinary.

They are the first line of defense for anyone interested in eco-friendly ways to rid their garden, field, or orchard of pests with their voracious appetites for many different species of pests.

1. Keep Away Aphids

Aphids are the prime source of food for ladybugs.

A single ladybug, from larvae to adults will eat nearly 1000 aphids over its lifetime [2].

However, you should not introduce them before you see aphids because they won’t stay. There won’t be anything for them to eat.

2. Pollinators

Among the benefits of ladybugs in the garden, they are great little pollinators.

Ladybird beetles like to feed on pollen and nectar. As a result, while roving among flowers, pollen tends to stick to them, which then fertilizes the flowers.

3. Kill Spider Mites  

The smell of the mites, along with the damage they do feeding in herds helps the lady beetles find them. They then crawl up to them and start eating.

Just one ladybug can eat up to 100 mites a day.

4. Mealybugs

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri aka Crypt or Mealybug Destroyer are the names the species that specializes in destroying mealybugs are known by.

The adult female lady bug lays her eggs among the colonies of mealybugs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat everything they can find.

5. Corn Borer Control

In a single day, a ladybird insect can eat up to 60 corn borer eggs. However, they leave the eating of the larvae and adults to other predator insects.

6. Colorado Potato Beetle

Ladybird beetles eat the eggs and larvae of the Colorado potato beetle wherever they find them. Therefore, they’re great at preventing a potato beetle infestation before it begins.

7. Beautify the Garden

The lady beetle’s appearance, with its vibrant colors and gorgeous wings, brings additional beauty to any garden it’s living in.

8. Whitefly Control

Delphastus catalinae is a species that specializes in controlling whiteflies.

160 whitefly eggs or more per day is a lot for one little beetle, but it does it. It can also consume 700 larvae during its lifetime.

9. Lace Bugs

Ladybugs are among the natural enemies of lace bugs. Utilize them to control all aspects of an infestation.

10. Thrips

This is another insect they are effective at controlling. Release these beauties in your garden to help keep thrips populations under control.

How to Attract Ladybugs Naturally

You can buy ladybugs for your garden locally or online, but the consensus is that attracting them is far better.

Buying them doesn’t guarantee they will feed because of the stress of moving. Attracting them also ensures they will dig into the feast you’re providing them.

Here are a few ways:

Plant Nectar and Pollen Plants

Grow flowers and herbs that have white and yellow blooms and flat leaves to attract lady bugs. The flat leaves give them a place to land and the flowers provide pollen and nectar.

Some plants and flowers that attract ladybugs include marigold, angelica, calendula, yarrow, chives, feverfew, and dill. Plant them around the house and garden.

Provide Plenty to Eat

If you don’t have enough pest insects already in the garden, you can plant some trap plants to draw in aphids — their favorite food.

Traps crops include radish, kale, sunflowers, hoya, mustard, and nasturtiums.

Quench Their Thirst

Place bowls of water with pebbles inside and around your garden. The stones give them a place to safely rest while they drink.

Be Careful with Pesticides

Synthetic pesticides will kill lady beetles and other helpful garden bugs if sprayed directly on them.

Natural pesticides should also be used with caution. Depending upon what it is, some natural ones will, at worst, kill them and best, drive them away from your garden, so be careful.

Identifying Them

Lady beetles range in color and size, with some mistaken for other types of beetles.

They mostly have red, orange, or yellow bodies with black spots, but they can also range in color from solid black to brown.

Besides, they can possess spots, stripes, or just be plain. They are tiny (between .03 to .7 inches) and round in shape with black on their heads, legs, and antennae.

Additionally, ladybugs have three natural defense mechanisms to keep predators from eating them.

• One is to play dead. They will pull up their legs and fall to the ground, playing dead to fool their attackers.
• The second is its color. Helpful predators such as birds have learned that certain colors mean unpleasant taste or unsafe to eat.
• The last is the toxic fluid they release to protect themselves when provoked. This liquid is foul-smelling and tastes bad, so predators will stay far.

See also: How to Get Rid of Asian Lady Beetles

Takeaway

Whatever name you call them by, these cute little beetles are not only helpful to have in your garden; they are amongst the more colorful.

Appearing in early Spring, they herald in the season as it begins to warm, leaving their hiding places in buildings and the like to begin mating, laying eggs, and, of course, eating.

By growing plants for ladybugs and following the other steps above, you can attract these helpful bugs to your garden.