Release the Krac... err... ladybugs!!!!

[Jeeebus]

Just set loose 1,500 ladybugs into the backyard to (hopefully) do battle with the whitefly and other assorted nuisances that are taking over. The poor mango trees are especially infested and, given that they are covered in mangoes and flowers, the chemical option is a no go. Hopefully these little suckers will feast away.

Lots of fun either way. Hilarious to have a couple dozen crawling all over your hand. Less funny to be in the house and feel stuff crawling around inside your shirt...

 

[BoomerD]

That reminds me of the day I was working in the garden...felt like I was being watched...and saw this:

 

[highland145]

Curious if preying mantis would do the trick?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Curious if preying mantis would do the trick?

That's the equivalent od nuking from orbit. They eat everything including each other.

 

[Aikouka]

I would probably rather have those bugs outside than have the inevitable lady bug infestation inside every year. Lady bugs are just annoying; they dry out and die all over. :|

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I hate ladybugs, i had a bad experience as a teenager where i woke up in the middle of the night with a disgusting taste in my mouth, turns out a ladybug had made its way to the back of my throat in my sleep. *shudder* just thinking about it gives me a nasty taste in my mouth

 

[highland145]

That's the equivalent od nuking from orbit. They eat everything including each other.

Is that a problem? What about Bahia?

😀

Wish I could get bats to hang around. The last was under the window AC , upstairs...du, do, dunnnnn.....He was invited out of the house and so was the unit. Screeching women at 6:30 am is not my cup of tea.

 

[iamwiz82]

I hate ladybugs, i had a bad experience as a teenager where i woke up in the middle of the night with a disgusting taste in my mouth, turns out a ladybug had made its way to the back of my throat in my sleep. *shudder* just thinking about it gives me a nasty taste in my mouth

One thing you probably didn't know is that ladybugs tend to lay eggs in the throats of their victims

 

[mmntech]

The Asian Lady Beetles start infesting my house at this time of year. They look identical to ladybugs but they're orange (most commonly) and they bite.

 

[Newbian]

Curious if preying mantis would do the trick?

That's the equivalent od nuking from orbit. They eat everything including each other.

 

[Jeeebus]

One thing you probably didn't know is that ladybugs tend to lay eggs in the throats of their victims

Ya, but the good thing is that being in the throat really slows down gestation. It takes about 15 years for the eggs to hatch and then the larvae begin feeding on the inner lining of the throat. All of this is on Wikipedia for him to confirm.

 

[GasX]

I'll see your 1500 ladybugs and raise you 5 million nematodes I just spread in the back yard.

 

[NetWareHead]

Yep, I did this too last year. I even bought a ladybug house and dumped an entire container of purchased ladybugs inside it so they would a have shelter. I'm not too keen on spraying chemicals etc... for pests and would try a natural method first.

 

[SearchMaster]

I hope it works out for you. I went with a friend to his vacation house one spring. He hadn't been there in a few months and inside the house there were THOUSANDS of dead ladybugs. He said it happened every spring but I've never seen anything like it, and it was kinda sad. We spent the better part of a couple hours sweeping and vacuuming up the carcasses.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

I hate ladybugs, i had a bad experience as a teenager where i woke up in the middle of the night with a disgusting taste in my mouth, turns out a ladybug had made its way to the back of my throat in my sleep. *shudder* just thinking about it gives me a nasty taste in my mouth

Doh, I would be eating right when I read this...lol

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I had no idea you could buy ladybugs. Don't have too much of them around here. Bunch of rollie polies and mosquitoes.

 

[corwin]

Where did you buy 1.5k ladybugs?

 

[DrunkenSano]

Yep, I did this too last year. I even bought a ladybug house and dumped an entire container of purchased ladybugs inside it so they would a have shelter. I'm not too keen on spraying chemicals etc... for pests and would try a natural method first.

There are ladybug houses?

 

[NetWareHead]

There are ladybug houses?

Here is one: http://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Eco-Ladybug-House

 

[lxskllr]

There are ladybug houses?

There's also butterfly houses and bat houses. I've been wanting to build some bat houses, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[DrunkenSano]

Looks kinda like a bird house except smaller entry slits. I guess the lady bugs just eat other bugs that try to seek shelter in there. Does it actually work?

 

[vbuggy]

I hate ladybugs, i had a bad experience as a teenager where i woke up in the middle of the night with a disgusting taste in my mouth, turns out a ladybug had made its way to the back of my throat in my sleep. *shudder* just thinking about it gives me a nasty taste in my mouth

Likely wasn't a ladybug but the Asian knockoff ladybugs that was mentioned later. They like warm damp crannies to take an overwinter / temporary zzzz.

 

[Jeeebus]

Where did you buy 1.5k ladybugs?

http://www.hirts.com/Live-Ladybugs-Gardens-Approximately-NectarTM/dp/B0057AZ5U8

 

[preslove]

nvm

 

[Sho'Nuff]

One thing you probably didn't know is that ladybugs tend to lay eggs in the throats of their victims

The throat you say? Really? I heard it was the anus.