Ladybugs live

LADYBUGS CANNOT BE SHIPPED - ORDERS PLACED MUST BE FOR PICKUP OR REGINA DELIVERY

Aphids are one of the most common and successful pests we find on our plants. 

One reason for this is that they are incredibly prolific:  when food is unlimited they go into an asexual reproductive stage, where an all female population give live birth to pregnant females.   

One way to combat them is to use what is perhaps the most widely recognized aphid predator, the popular ladybug.  Ladybugs are predators both as adults and larvae, and are capable of consuming about 50 aphids daily.

The ladybugs we sell are native to North America, the species Hippodamia convergens.  Their main prey are aphids, but they are generalists, and feed on a variety of other pests including thrips, mites, whitefly, mealybugs, leafhoppers, and many other soft-bodied bugs.  As generalists, they also can serve as a great follow up or add-on to help deal with many pest issues you may be facing.

After receiving ladybugs, they can either be released right away or be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks (see the expiry date stamped onto the label of the bag).  The best time to release ladybugs is at dusk, when the bugs are least active, and the environment is not as hot and dry as mid-day.  It is also a good idea to mist the plants with water in the area where you’ll be releasing the ladybugs. 

Ladybugs are capable of consuming up to 50 to 60 aphids per day but will also eat a variety of other insects and larvae including scales, mealy bugs, leaf hoppers, mites, and various types of soft-bodied insects. Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are a very beneficial group of insects.

packet contains 250 dormant ladybugs Suited for 50 - 200 square feet.