Ladybird beetles , better live as ladybugs in the United States , are well - known good predators that voraciously feed in on some of the most annoying cosh - sucking garden pests . The ladybird is not a single species of louse . They actually comprise a large group of related mallet all classify within the family Coccinellidae . In North America alone , there are several hundred species of ladybird beetles spread out throughout the continent .
Ladybird mallet are ellipse with a hemispheric cast , most coinage are less than 1/4 in in diameter and some are much little . Most North American mintage typically exhibit a reddish - orange tree coloration with dour spots or a ignominious coloration with reddish spots ( with plenty of exceptions ) .
The Brobdingnagian majority of North American Coccinellidae specie are predators , with two plant eating nuisance exceptions : the Mexican bean mallet and the squash racquets mallet . The good coinage , however , either target a undivided insect pestis or a range of small insect pests from aphids and wanderer mite to scale insects and mealy bug . Both grownup beetles and their immature larva are active predator , eating the same garden pests .
The larval stages of ladybird beetles await nothing like the grownup beetle and are unremarkably described as gator - like , with an elongated body featuring a dark coloration and no wings . Gardeners should familiarize themselves with the appearance of ladybird beetle larva so they are not confused with undesirable pests and accidentally removed . Studies have suggest that a unmarried ladybird mallet can consume several thousand aphid in its lifetime , making these mallet an invaluable friend in your vegetable garden !
The depredation powers of the ladybird beetle have encouraged some entrepreneurial folks to sell either adult ladybirds or their larva as the root to your garden - pest woes . As I mentioned in my recent place on mantids , I am mostly fight back to the practice of purchasing beneficials like implore mantises or ladybird beetles as commercial-grade pest - control options . If you release grownup mallet , the first thing they will do is scatter and fly into the large landscape . And count on where and how your beetle were put up , they might not be acclimated to your local environment , resulting in high death rate rates . Finally , any insects you buy may be improperly key out , mean you may be free non - natives or species of ladybird beetles that do not feed on your specific pest .
The good use of your money and time is hold a diverse garden that swear on sustainable garden methods with very special or no pesticide economic consumption . ( pesticide be given to harm beneficials and pests alike . ) Growing an array of plants will help increase your chances of attracting instinctive predators to any worm population that may get out of balance in the garden .
Read more of Garden In Front »
