Backyard Buddies: Ladybird, Ladybird fly to my home!

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04 Jan 2012

As summer warms up, Backyard Buddies is warning residents to be on the look-out for exterminators wearing spotted outfits in their gardens.

Nature’s pest controllers, ladybirds, are most active in warm weather and are now out in force to care for your prized plants.

Backyard Buddies is a free program run by Australia’s Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. Each month, you get a Backyard Buddies email (B-mail) with tips to make your backyard inviting and safe for native animals. Ladybirds featured in January B-mail. Sign up for B-mail and download a free factsheet about Ladybirds at www.backyardbuddies.net.au.

“Ditch the chemicals and pesticides if you’ve got aphids in your garden,” said Mr Steve Corbett, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. “These sprays could unwittingly be getting rid of your best bug controller yet – the ladybird.”

“If given the chance ladybirds, also known as ladybugs and lady beetles, will happily eat up your aphids, scale insects and mites. An adult ladybird can consume 2,500 aphids during its lifetime. Ladybirds are thought to live for about two months, but some species can live for up to two years.”

“There are many easy things residents can do to attract ladybirds to their gardens.”

Avoid using even low toxicity environmentally-friendly insecticides such as pyrethrum or garlic spray, as these will also kill ladybirds.
Plant nectar and pollen-bearing native plants as ladybirds also eat flower nectar and plant material including fungus.
Mix up a tasty brew of honey mixed with water and brewer’s yeast and spread it in the garden.
Put up with a few unwanted bugs in the garden if you want to see ladybirds as well. Ladybirds need a food source if they are going to visit, so be patient.
Water your plants early in the morning as this gives ladybirds a welcome drink and helps their feet to stick to leaves and stems.
Ladybirds prefer moist, warm conditions so mulch the garden to retain water.
Plants such as marigold, parsley, coriander, dill, fennel, alfalfa, zucchini, melons and cucumbers attract ladybirds. After you’ve harvested the vegies, leave the plants in the ground even after the leaves become mouldy. Look on the underside of a mouldy leaf and you may find little black critters with many legs – these are ladybird babies!

“Ladybirds start life as an egg, go through three larval stages, and turn into a pupa before finally becoming an adult,” said Mr Corbett. “During her lifetime, a lady ladybird will lay as many as 2,000 eggs.”

“Ladybird larvae look very different to adults and can sometimes be confused with other bugs including scale. If you have some unknown bugs in the garden, its best to leave them be as they could grow up to be gorgeous ladybirds.”

“You can also purchase your own ladybird buddies to help the population become established. Different ladybirds eat different bugs, so purchase the right lady killers for your garden from www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au or www.bugsforbugs.com.au. Release ladybirds after sunset or before sunrise as they are more likely to stay.”

Fun Facts about ladybirds

There are over 500 species of ladybirds in Australia. Identify what types of ladybirds are around you at the CSIRO’s Ladybirds of Australia’s website www.ento.csiro.au/biology/ladybirds/ladybirds.htm
Ladybird copulation typically lasts for 15-60 minutes but can extend for a few hours or even days.
Like human hair going grey, as ladybirds age their spots fade.
A ladybird in flight beats its wings up to 85 times per second.
Ladybirds breathe through openings on the sides of their bodies.
In 1999, NASA sent ladybirds and aphids up in the space shuttle to test their movements in zero gravity.
Ladybirds are very good at protecting themselves. Their bright colours and spots warn predators that they could be toxic to eat. They can also secrete a bitter smelling liquid to make any inquisitive predators go away.

“Many cultures believe that ladybirds are lucky. Killing one is said to bring sadness and misfortune. The nursery rhyme ‘Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home’ encourages children to catch the beetles and blow them on their way in return for a wish. It is thought this was a way of getting the children to disperse the beetles amongst the crops to destroy pests and avoid famine.”

“Enjoy ladybirds in your gardens this summer. They’re doing you a great favour,” said Mr Corbett.

Share your photos of ladybirds and other native animals on www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies.

Backyard Buddies: Ladybird, Ladybird fly to my home!

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