live ladybugs in the mail?

[Greenthumb18]

:bee Has anyone ever ordered live ladybugs for their garden before?
I noticed the other day that places do sell them online for releasing into the garden for insect control. :/ I might just order some, I bet it would be a better way to control insects than harmful pesticides. But do the ladybugs really stay in the garden you release them in?
It would be really interesting to get some for the garden their not too expensive, maybe it will help build up a bigger population of ladybugs and I see other beneficial insects could be ordered as well, like the praying mantis.

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

I've never ordered them myself... we seem to have zillions of PMantis this year, and earlier this spring we had zillions of lady bugs! But the garden wasn't really "in" yet, so they just hung out on the tall prairie grasses and wildflowers. Now and then I find a lady bug in the garden, but see PMs daily.

 

[wsmoak]

I've seen them at home improvement stores before, so you might not have to order them through the mail.

I have wild ones here, saw one this morning on my tomato plant and was happy until I saw the zillions of little white bugs (aphids?) it was there to (I hope) eat!

--
Wendy

 

[nachoqtpie]

I think I seen an aphid today on our pumpkin plant.... should I smoosh them if I see 'em??

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i swear my house attracts the little buggers! they hibernate in our house during the winter! when we moved into our house and i removed some of the curtains left by the former owners i found over 20 ladybugs on each side of each window!!! been here almost 4 years now and they still are coming back to the house, just not as many inside the house as before!

i have not ordered them through the mail before but i have heard that some local garden centers can get them for you if you ask!

i was also told they are attracted to light blue painted houses/structures. my sister has the same issues with ladybugs in the winter, but her's are more of a nuisance for her in the winter because her house is blue.

 

[seedcorn]

There are ladybugs and then there are asain beetles that look very similiar but bite and stink when squashed.

The problem w/predator insects is that they will move on when their food source isn't in abundance. By the time predator pops build up, the invading insects have already done their damage.