edit: lady bugs being released to do murder. alt text doesnt seem to have loaded correctly when posted.
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.
What’s going on here?
Forgive the ignorance!
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!
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.
