Don’t Buy Ladybugs—Here’s How to Attract Them Naturally to Eliminate Garden Pests

Ladybugs are incredible allies in the garden, acting as natural pest control and helping reduce the need for harmful pesticides. These vibrant insects are relentless hunters, dining on various pests, including aphids, spider mites, scales, midges, mealybugs, corn earworms, and leafhoppers.

While introducing ladybugs to your garden can offer significant benefits, it's important to approach their purchase and release with care due to possible drawbacks. Fortunately, there are effective natural methods to attract ladybugs to your garden rather than depending on store-bought and mail-order options.

Below, experts share practical ways to draw ladybugs to your garden, ensuring your plants thrive without the hassle of pesky invaders.

Why You Shouldn't Purchase Ladybugs

While there are some ladybug "farms," most ladybugs for sale are captured in the wild. Transporting them to other environments presents challenges and can lead to undesirable outcomes.

• It's Not Effective: While ladybugs are natural predators of many common garden pests, buying and releasing them into your garden is usually not effective, says Ankit Singh, assistant professor and ornamental horticulture educator at the University of Maine Extension. Most commercially sold ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens) are wild-caught and tend to fly away shortly after being released, he explains. This often happens if there is insufficient food, water, or shelter available.
• You Risk Harming Local Populations: Researchers say that up to 15% of wild-harvested ladybugs carry the internal parasite Dinocampus coccinellae. If it's not already in your area, you may inadvertently introduce it. Many harvested beetles are also infected with Microsporidia, a disease that shortens the ladybug’s life span and reduces the number of eggs laid by the female ladybug.
  
• It's Stressful—and Natural Attraction Is Better: Singh also notes that these ladybugs may become stressed from handling or storage. Additionally, if they are released at the wrong time—such as too early in the season, during hot weather, or when there are not enough pests present to sustain them—they are unlikely to stay and defend your garden. A better way to introduce ladybugs to your garden is by attracting them naturally by creating an environment where they thrive.

For gardeners who insist on using the purchase and release method, Singh says to do so only under ideal conditions. This includes releasing them on a cool evening, near an aphid infestation, and with a nearby water source. However, even under these conditions, there is no guarantee that the released insects will remain in the area.

Benefits of Native Ladybugs

Meanwhile, attracting native ladybugs to your garden tends to be more effective than buying and releasing them. Fortunately, with the right conditions, ladybugs will naturally find their way to your garden beds. Singh says these beneficial insects offer a range of advantages for your gardening areas, such as:

• Consume Harmful Pests: Ladybugs consume a significant number of pests, particularly aphids; each ladybug can eat up to 50 per day
• Limit Use of Commercial Pesticides: By consuming harmful insects, ladybugs reduce the need for chemical insecticides, making your garden more pollinator- and eco-friendly
• Improve Biodiversity: Ladybugs support biodiversity by naturally balancing pest populations

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How to Attract Ladybugs to Your Garden

Creating a garden that ladybugs enjoy is easy and rewarding. Ladybugs are more likely to remain in gardens that offer a good balance of food, water, and shelter. Here’s how to create a habitat that ladybugs will love.

Plant Flowers That Attract Ladybugs

Ladybugs are attracted to pollen and nectar, so planting a variety of flowering plants can draw in these beneficial insects. According to Singh, flowers such as dill, fennel, yarrow, marigold, sweet alyssum, sunflowers, calendula, and cosmos are excellent choices, as they attract both ladybugs and their prey. Growing these plants in your garden can enhance its appeal while encouraging ladybugs to visit. Spread these varieties throughout your yard or plant them in areas infested with harmful pests.

Provide a Water Source

Ladybugs require a consistent water source to thrive. Singh advises providing water for ladybugs in shallow dishes or with damp sponges, as this will generate a friendly habitat. To create a hydration spot for them to recharge, fill a shallow dish or plant saucer with small rocks. Then, add water to the shallow dish and place it in your garden.

Avoid Using Broad-Spectrum Insecticides

To protect ladybugs and other vital insects, such as honeybees, Singh emphasizes the importance of avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides, as they can harm and eliminate these beneficial species.

Add a Ladybug House

Ladybug homes are typically constructed from wood and feature small entrance holes. They can be found at local nurseries or online. These homes not only provide a suitable shelter for beneficial insects but also enhance the visual appeal of your garden. Place the ladybug home in a sunny location about 1 to 3 feet above the ground.

Other Pest Control Methods

There are other reliable and sustainable ways to control garden pests naturally beyond using ladybugs. 

Use Garlic Juice

Garlic juice is an effective pest deterrent that will not harm ladybugs, says Eric Nieusma, co-owner of Maine Hill Farm and regenerative farmer. "Garlic juice can effectively repel over a dozen pests and will also stop deer from eating your crops," he says. Purchase a 99 percent garlic juice solution and spray as directed. Nieusma recommends thoroughly spraying the underside of the plant leaves in the evenings. Spray regularly and after rainfall for maximum efficacy. The natural solution can be sprayed directly onto fruits and vegetables up to the day of harvest.

Install a Row Cover

Singh recommends installing floating row covers in growing areas to physically block pests from consuming your hard-earned crops. However, row covers will also deter ladybugs, so other pest control methods may be more ideal. 

Practice Companion Planting

Strategically grouping plants can help deter certain pests, as many plants possess repelling properties either through their strong scent or by attracting beneficial insects. Singh recommends planting basil with tomatoes and marigolds near beans to fight unwanted pests.