Ladybirds come in all different colours, shapes and sizes
Ladybirds live for approx a year and in that short lifetime can eat up to 4000 aphids each.
As well as aphids, they eat other harmful insects such as scale insects, mealy bugs and red spider mites.
They are one of the gardeners and farmers greatest allies as they are natures own pest controllers
They are known to be far more effective than poisonous chemicals at keeping down the numbers of aphids.
They lay up to 300 eggs and it is the larvae that consume the most aphids.
Ladybird larva
You can encourage ladybirds into your garden by buying or making a bug box. These can be sited in a sunny position near to their food source (aphids). Attractants can also be purchased to encourage them further.
