If your garden does not have adequate space to plant ladybug attracting plants, you can purchase ladybugs from numerous websites on internet and most nurseries. Before releasing them into your garden, here are a few tips to help ensure that ladybugs stay where you want them:

1.Release ladybugs near infested plants after sun down or before sun up. They navigate by sun and are most likely to stay put in evenings and early mornings.

2.Water area where you are going to release ladybugs. They will appreciate drink and moisture on leaves will help ladybugs to “stick” on plants. If released in a dry garden, ladybugs will most likely fly off in search of a drink instead of sticking around to eat.

3.In warmer months, chill ladybugs in refrigerator before releasing them. This will not harm ladybugs and they tend to crawl more in colder temperatures rather than fly away.

Another way to attract ladybugs to your garden is to place several ladybug habitation boxes around your garden. Fill boxes with organic material such as peat or compost to encourage ladybugs to roost and lay eggs inside box. In addition, habitation box also provides protection for ladybugs in winter months.

To further promote ladybug populations, consider cutting back on spraying insecticides in your garden. Ladybugs are sensitive to most synthetic insecticides and if majority of their food source is gone, they will not lay their eggs and therefore will not continue to populate.

Here are some interesting ladybug facts: •There are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide and 400 which live in North America.

•A female ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime.

•A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies.

•A gallon jar will hold from 72,000 to 80,000 ladybugs.

•Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won't eat them.

•The spots on a ladybug fade as ladybug gets older.

•Ladybugs won't fly if temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

•The ladybug is official state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Tennessee.

As you can see, ladybug is one of most effective and economically important insects to have in your garden. In some cultures, seeing ladybugs in gardens indicates a bountiful harvest, an indication of good weather or a good luck omen. Create an alluring environment for ladybugs and they are sure to provide charm and pest control in your garden for years to come.

Copyright 2005, Lesley Dietschy, All rights reserved.

Southeastern United States:

•Butterfly Bush •Cardinal Flower •Coral or Trumpet Honeysuckle •Cypress Vine •Native Trumpet Creeper •Texas Sage

Southwest United States:

•Indian Paintbrush •Lantana •Lily of Nile •Mexican Honeysuckle •Texas Sage •Western Coral Bean

West Coast United States:

•Beebalm •Bottle Brush •Cape Fuchsia •Colombine •Salmonberry •Woodland Orchard

Northeastern United States:

•Blue Lobelia •Cardinal Flower •Hollyhock •Red Morning Glory •Salvia •Scarlet Sage

Midwest United States:

•Coral Bells •Coral Honeysuckle •Foxglove •Hosta •Impatients •Lilac

Even though flowers are natural means to attract hummingbirds to your garden, man-made feeders filled with a mixture of water and sugar (sucrose) are an essential alternative. Sugar, whether from a flower or a feeder, is a necessary nutrient in a hummingbird’s diet. Tests have shown that hummingbirds favor sucrose in flower nectar more than other sugars such as fructose and glucose. Therefore, with proper ratio of ingredients, your feeder becomes a good substitute to flowers that hummingbirds like best.

The formula for mixture used in hummingbird feeders is 4 parts water (not distilled) to 1 part table sugar. Boil mixture for one to two minutes, then cool and store in refrigerator. The mixture can be stored in refrigerator for up to one week. Do not use red food coloring, honey, or artificial sweeteners in your mixture, as this could be harmful to hummingbirds.

If one of your goals is to attract hummingbirds to your garden, a visit to your local nursery is a great starting point. Find an experienced employee who can tell you which species of plants grow well in your area and have a history of successfully attracting hummingbirds. Most importantly, be imaginative and have fun planting and growing your garden to attract beautiful hummingbirds.

Copyright 2005, Lesley Dietschy, All rights reserved.