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Where Does a Lady Live? Ladybug habitats

November 18th, 2009 Posted in Beetles & Ladybugs

Ladybugs are probably the cutest bug out there. After all, even the most bug-phobic person can’t help but find ladybugs unassuming and at the very least, harmless. So where can you find these adorable insects?

This article will explore:

• Where a ladybug makes its home
• Why ladybugs are beneficial
• How to create a ladybug habitat

Where a ladybug makes its home

There are over 5,000 species of ladybugs in the world, with 450 species making their home in North America. Ladybugs, also called lady beetles, are part of the beetle family and are found all over the world in different types of climates. They thrive in a temperate environment, however, as they will not fly if the temperature dips below 55 degrees.

Ladybugs are small, usually no more than a 1/2 inch long and range from orange-ish red to a deep scarlet. They have small black spots on their wings, black antennae, and 6 black legs.

You’ll find ladybugs where you find aphids. Aphids are ladybug’s main food source. A single ladybug will consume around 5,000 aphids in its short lifetime, which usually doesn’t last more than three or four months.

In the summer months, ladybugs make their homes in bushes, branches, flower beds, gardens, and on plants where aphids are in rich supply. But in the fall, when food becomes more scarce, ladybugs form colonies called colepteras. They hide in crawl type spaces or other covered areas that will protect them from the changing weather.

Believe it or not, ladybugs have something in common with bears: they hibernate. During the winter months, they hibernate to avoid death. Ladybugs can hibernate in groups of up to 50 or 100 million to produce warmth and provide protection. So in the winter, you’ll find ladybugs under leaves, rocks, and fallen trees to provide shelter.

Why ladybugs are beneficial

Ladybugs are unique among bugs because they aren’t considered pests. In fact, ladybugs are even called a “gardener’s best friend.” Why, you might ask?

Ladybugs don’t harm the plants they make their homes on. But they do eat aphids, who eat plants in your garden. Ladybugs are therefore extremely beneficial.

They are basically a kind of natural pest control. Ladybugs are extremely useful to farmers who grow vegetables, grains, legumes, strawberries, and fruits from trees because aphids all attack these crops. Ladybugs will only eat aphids and in dire circumstances, mite and beetle eggs and thrips. Ladybugs will never attack plants because they are predatory.

How to create a ladybug habitat

Now that you know that ladybugs are not just cute but also beneficial, you may even want to attract them to your garden rather than just wait to see if they show up.

If you don’t have any ladybugs in your garden already, then creating a ladybug rich garden requires catching some ladybugs. Finding a plant with a lot of ladybugs on it is the first step. They tend to hang out around plants with aphids. Aphids eat the sugary sap from the stems of plants and mainly eat plants that grow fruit or flowers like roses, peonies, and hibiscus.

After catching a few ladybugs, place them in a habitat that has shelter, such as sticks and plants. Then, all they need to survive is a steady stream of aphids and a moist environment. Make sure to mist the tank to keep them happy. This type of habitat should ensure mating and survival.

When you have enough ladybugs, release them into your garden. Summer months are usually best for this type of release, because ladybugs are not active in the winter. However, it’s not a good idea to keep ladybugs in a tank past the summer anyway, because they cannot hibernate in that environment and will die.

If you need to get rid of pests other than aphids and still want to do it in a natural way, try EcoSMART Garden Insect Killer. It’s safe for children and pets and the environment while still being effective against all kinds of garden pests!