Ladybug
A small dome-shaped beetle about 1/4 inch long, most commonly red with black spots. Both adults and larvae are voracious predators of aphids and other soft-bodied pests.
Why you want them
A single adult ladybug can consume up to 50 aphids per day; a larva can eat several hundred during its development. They target aphids, scale insects, whitefly, and spider mites systematically, often following the scent trails of honeydew. A healthy population can suppress aphid outbreaks before they require intervention. They overwinter as adults, making them available very early in the season when pest pressure first builds.
Helps control
How to attract them
- Dill
- Fennel
- Yarrow
- Marigold
- Sweet alyssum
- Dandelion
Preferred habitat
Found on aphid-infested plants, in long grass, and under loose bark. They overwinter in leaf litter, dense ivy, and sheltered crevices. Ladybug houses and log piles help.
What harms them
Broad-spectrum insecticides (including some "organic" options like pyrethrin), removal of overwintering habitat, and the presence of ants that protect aphid colonies.
Related pest guides
Garden, by Willowbottom works with nature, not against it. Support your garden allies and they will do most of the hard work for you.