Will ladybug lures attract pests? I have aphids in my veranda garden and I was looking into...
I have aphids in my veranda garden and I was looking into introducing some ladybugs to eat them. Everyone I enjoy tried is sold out and ordering them online is very expensive (S&H). I see that here are 'lures' and 'houses' sold to attract ladybugs but since this is right outside my balcony door, I am concerned about what other bugs may be attracted by these...it say the lures smell like aphids, wouldn't that attract ants for example? Does anyone have more information on this?
Answers: Lures usually smell approaching other ladybugs, especially the females.
The problem with so many ladybugs is they are collected when they are contained by their "winter swarm".a kind of nonsexual congreational party. When they are released within your garden, they are awake from this winter haze and do what they would do normally.fly away.
Some of the stay at home type LB enjoy been specially prepped to say closer to the release nouns, but don't expect to see them all in your garden.
As for the aphids.you can cut back the population with water, a rugged blast will dislodge many and they don't return. Actually LBs are just one of various predatory insects on aphids. You need to learn what to look for to determine if perchance other predators are already there.
One big boost is to control the ants in your garden. Ants are aphid guards, they attack aphid predators. Ants munch through the sugary discharge from the aphid so it is in their interest to keep the "cow" aphid protected.