Small endearing insect, I do not only serve for nursery rhymes for children. Indeed, I am also a precious ally for your garden. I fight against the pests that invade your garden. But to get to know myself and my colleagues better, there are many things to discover about us. I’m telling you everything!

I am one of the favorite insects

I am very small, round, beautifully colored, but above all harmless. It’s not just in children’s stories that I’m appreciated. It is also said that I am a good luck charm. But above all, I am one of your most faithful allies, to fight against the pests present in your garden: aphids

Moreover, we are about 6000 species worldwide . You can find a few in your garden. Among the most common are seven-spotted ladybugs, two-spotted ladybugs, and finally the Asian ladybug.

Just like the beetle, I belong to the beetle family. I am also nicknamed the “Beast to God“. In fact, I owe my nickname to a story dating back to the Middle Ages, in addition to being the gardener’s ally.

One day, a man was sentenced to death for murder, even though he maintained his innocence. An amazing thing happened, when a ladybug landed repeatedly on his neck. Seen as a divine sign, King Robert II ordered the man to be released. The real culprit was finally found a few days later.

laying of a ladybug

My life cycle

Generally, I can live about 2 years. A female lays her eggs in the spring, on an aphid-infested plant. Some species can lay up to 500 eggs. The eggs hatch after about 5 days. When I am a larva, I immediately start looking for food. I don’t need to hunt. To feed and develop, I just have to walk on the leaves, and devour all the aphids in my path.

I molt four times during my growth (about 14 days). At my last stage, I stop on a leaf to turn into a nymph (a chrysalis). After a week, I come out of my nymph being yellow. I turn red after a few hours. My blackheads appear the next day.

My dots don’t indicate my age

If you think my dots indicate my age, think again! All spotted ladybugs retain the same number of stitches throughout their lives. In France, seven-spotted ladybugs are the most numerous. Moreover, some species can have up to 22 points.

On the other hand, my color can vary with my age. Indeed, a ladybug can be yellow at birth, and then take on the red color as it grows.

In reality, the bright colors on the backs of ladybugs represent a way to protect themselves from predators. My body produces alkaloids, a toxic substance. I also have very bad taste. If a predator tries to eat me, he will keep a very unpleasant memory of it.

I am a garden assistant

A ladybug is very effective for your garden. In fact, my main role is to eradicate an infected plant of aphids. I am a carnivorous predator. I feed mainly on aphids. As an adult, I am able to consume up to 150 a day, much more voracious than a larva. However, if aphids are rare, I can consume thrips, mealybugs, pollen or nectar.

Rest assured, we do not cause any damage in your vegetable garden.

I am very appreciated by gardeners. What a relief, when a gardener discovers me on his plants overgrown by aphids. He knows that in a few days, these parasites will be a distant memory.

The ladybug is widely used for ecological control. By appealing to me, you ban the use of pesticides and other chemicals; harmful to fauna and flora. Many gardeners breed ladybugs. They buy us in the form of eggs or very young live larvae, in order to deposit us on plants invaded by aphids. A ladybug is just as effective as insecticides, without having ecological disadvantages.

Better yet, a larva that has become an adult, will in turn lay eggs on other plants parasitized by aphids. Nevertheless, you must take a few precautions for our role to be effective:

  • do not put insecticide treatment on the plant,
  • Watch out for ants.

When ants adopt a colony of aphids, they may protect them. Indeed, they feed on honeydew secreted by aphids, and kill ladybug larvae.

Flower of marigoldHow do I attract myself to your garden?

We will come naturally to your garden if you ban the use of insecticides. Indeed, you risk killing me in addition to harmful insects.

Food is the main element to attract me to your garden. Again, a ladybug eats pests or plants. I need both of these elements to survive. Preserve a space rich in flora. If you offer them in abundance, ladybugs settle with pleasure in your garden. Among the plants, you can see for example:

  • Angelic
  • Nettles
  • Calendula
  • Caraway
  • Chives
  • Coriander
  • Dill
  • Fennel

If you want to protect these plants, you can also use a few trap plants, which will serve to attract aphids. Cabbage and nasturtium are the favorite plants of aphids.

You can place shallow plates of water, in order to attract me. Building an insect house would be welcome. What for? You will also attract other garden auxiliaries such as solitary bees, hoverflies or an earwig.

These are very effective in eliminating aphids, snails and slugs, harmful to your vegetable garden or fruit trees.

In winter, I sleep

In the fall, I come to hibernate in the bark of large trees, a pile of dead leaves, a pile of wood or the cracks in the walls of your house. Don’t worry, I’m just spending the winter until spring.

If you do not have these elements in your garden, you can build a shelter of boards, bricks, or tiles with gaps. You can also install a house of ladybugs in a sunny corner.

Ultimately, you don’t need to use chemicals to remedy your pest problems. Without knowing it, you have a natural insecticide that does the job for you. My colleagues and I have proven our effectiveness while preserving your plants. If your vegetable garden is infested with aphids, keep in mind that we are your best ecological asset.