Do Ladybugs Destroy Plants?
Ladybugs are often considered to be a beneficial bug, providing natural pest control for homeowners and farmers alike. But do ladybugs actually destroy plants? The answer is no — with one caveat.
Ladybugs are actually voracious predators that feed on other insects, not plants. This makes them a great ally for anyone wanting to get rid of aphids, scale insects and other garden pests. As larvae and adults, ladybugs consume these insects, protecting your plants and some crops from these pests. But while ladybugs are a gardener’s friend, they can cause problems if they’re overpopulated in your garden. When plants begin to crowd out other beneficial insects, the ladybugs may start to feed on the plant itself. This can be damaging to delicate blooms, buds and stems.
Ladybugs also need to eat other insects or they could starve and die. If there aren’t enough other bugs to eat in your garden, the ladybugs might start to eat the foliage of your plants. This can be especially damaging to young seedlings or soft green shoots. Homeowners can often combat this overpopulation of ladybugs through proper garden maintenance. Ladybugs can be attracted to your garden in the first place if there’s plenty of food available — like aphids. If you keep your garden clean and free of these other pests, then ladybugs should stay away.
If you have an abundance of ladybugs in your garden, you should try using modern insecticides to keep them away. However, these insecticides come with their own detriments — killing off other beneficial bugs — so do your research before using them. Of course, you can also hand-pick ladybugs from your garden or use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up out of sight. This labor-intensive approach may seem tedious, but it’s generally the most eco-friendly way of keeping ladybugs away from your precious plants.
At the end of the day, ladybugs do not destroy plants. In fact, they help your garden to flourish, controlling pests that can cause real damage. But if ladybugs overpopulate your garden, they could become a nuisance and threaten the health of your plants. Therefore, proper garden maintenance is key if you want to keep your plants safe from those pesky ladybugs.
What's Your Reaction?
