Ladybugs are beneficial insects. They control pests like aphids by eating them, thereby diminishing the necessity for pesticides. They are also easy-to-maintain pets that symbolize good luck. This species is perfect for those seeking a low-commitment companion. Here’s a guide on how to keep ladybugs as pets.
Before keeping ladybugs as pets, you should know some facts about the lady beetle.
Getting ladybugs as pets
If you want to keep ladybugs as pets, you need to have one. Here’s how you can get them:
Find the right spot: Look in places like fields, forests, gardens, or trees where there’s lots of vegetation and bugs for them to eat.
Attract them: Grow flowers and herbs like fennel, dill, cilantro, cosmos, tansy, yarrow, and more. These plants will bring ladybugs to your garden because they like to eat the bugs that hang around these plants. Ladybugs also like UV light, so using a blacklight can help you find them too.
Catch them: Since you keep ladybugs as pets, you just need 1 – 2 lady beetle. Use your hand to grab them and put them into the jar gently.
Avoid buying ladybugs: It might seem easy to buy ladybugs if you can’t find them around your garden. But hold on! Buying them can actually cause harm. Most of the ladybugs you can buy are taken from the wild. This can hurt the ladybug communities in your area. Also, these bought lady beetles might bring along parasites that can make things worse for the local ladybugs. So, instead of buying, try to make your garden a cozy place for the ladybugs already living around you.
Handle with care: When interacting with ladybugs, it’s important to be gentle to prevent harming them and to avoid triggering their defense mechanism, which can result in the release of a toxic fluid. To move ladybugs, you can coax them onto a brush or a pen, which allows for safer transfer without direct contact.
Ladybug habitat setup
Enclosure: Start with a spacious container, as ladybugs need room to move and fly. The container should have a secure lid to prevent escape, and fine-mesh screening can be used to ensure proper airflow while keeping the ladybugs safe.
Temperature: Ladybugs are comfortable in room temperatures, but they prefer it to be cozy. Keep their environment between 75°F and 85°F. A sunny windowsill is a perfect spot.
Humidity: You can spray water in the enclosure or use a humidifier. Another option is to put a damp cloth or paper towel on the floor.
Substrate: Choose a substrate that retains moisture without becoming soggy, such as coconut fiber or peat moss, to maintain proper hygiene and encourage natural behaviors. It should be deep enough.
Plants: Provide twigs, leaves, or an upside-down egg carton segment for the ladybugs to hide and relax.
Lighting: Although additional lighting is not strictly necessary, having a light source can be beneficial, especially if your place doesn’t have natural light. If you do provide lighting, make sure it’s not too intense to overheat the enclosure or alter the natural day-night cycle for the ladybugs.
When creating the habitat, ensure that any water sources, such as shallow water dishes, are safe and easily accessible for the ladybugs to drink from without the risk of drowning.
Regular cleaning and observation are crucial to maintaining a healthy environment for your ladybugs. Spot clean the enclosure as needed and perform a thorough cleaning regularly to prevent bacterial growth and to keep the habitat fresh.
Feeding ladybugs
What to feed:
As you may know, ladybugs love to eat aphids. So, you can get to your garden and find some aphids for them. You can also buy aphids and other insects, such as white flies, mites, and scale insects from pet shops. Just ensure the bugs you feed them are smaller than the ladybug itself so they don’t choke.
If you can’t find aphids temporarily, you can also give ladybugs soaked raisins, sweetened water, or other sweet fruits. Some ladybugs might even enjoy honey, nectar, or pollen. Some species, like those in the Epilachninae group, prefer to eat things like fungi and leaves instead of bugs. So, it’s good to know what type of ladybugs you have to give them the right food.
How often to feed:
Ladybugs don’t need much food to stay healthy. It’s important not to give them too much food because it can hurt them. Feeding them a few times a week is usually enough, but it might vary based on how big they are and what kind of ladybug they are. An adult ladybug can eat about 50 aphids every day.
Tips when feeding ladybugs:
Offer food in small amounts to prevent waste and spoilage.
Use shallow containers for feeding liquids and soft solids (such as damp paper towels or a sponge) to prevent lady beetles from drowning.
Replace any uneaten food regularly to prevent mold and bacteria growth.
Ensure live food, like aphids, is accessible for ladybugs that prefer or require it.
Remember that the dietary needs can vary depending on the different types of ladybugs, so you should try to match the diet as closely as possible to what they would find in their natural habitat.
Releasing lady beetles
Ladybugs thrive best in their natural habitat, so it’s best to release them after a few days of caring for them. When releasing ladybugs, it’s ideal to do so in the spring or towards the end of summer when the weather is still warm. If you wish to keep ladybugs in your garden, here are a few tips for you:
Ladybugs are best released in the evening when they’re less likely to fly away right away. This gives them time to settle in overnight.
Before you set them free, water your garden well. Having lots of different plants in your garden gives them places to hide and plenty of food, especially aphids.
Release ladybugs in a spot shielded from harsh sunlight and wind. Too much heat or wind can make the ladybugs stressed and scatter away.
Don’t let all your ladybugs loose in one go. Spread out the release over a few days. This helps avoid overwhelming the area and boosts the chances of lady beetles sticking around.
If you’ve used pesticides recently, hold off on introducing ladybugs for about a month. Pesticides can hurt them, making it less likely they’ll stay in your garden.
