Can You Really Mail Order Ladybugs?

Many garden supply stores offer ladybugs as a form of natural pest control. In addition to physically going to a garden store to purchase ladybugs, consumers can also order them through the Internet or a mail order catalog service, and the colorful beetles will arrive within a few days, usually in a mesh bag inside of a sturdy ventilated box. The ladybugs can be released into the garden or used for educational projects, and usually multiple generations of ladybugs will breed from a single order.

There are many species in the Coccinellidae family, but the classic ladybug is orange or red with black spots. Ladybugs are excellent for natural pest control, because they eat aphids, worms, gnats, and other garden pests. In addition, the larvae of ladybugs will also eat garden pests, meaning that even as the older generation is dying off, the younger ladybugs will step in. For gardeners who are trying to garden organically, or want to garden more cheaply, ladybugs are an excellent way to protect crops and ornamental gardens from infestation.

When mail ordering ladybugs, you can order various amounts of them, depending on the size of the garden. A small bag with several hundred ladybugs is usually quite cheap, but people with large areas to cover can also order several thousand. The cost for a single bag of ladybugs is significantly cheaper than chemical forms of pest control, and typically includes next day shipping so that the animals will arrive healthy. When the box is delivered, it can be taken out into the garden and opened in the evening, along with the mesh bag inside. Most gardeners set the box out for several hours, allowing all of the ladybugs to get out and explore on their own, although a larger box may be divided up into several sections to ensure that the whole garden is covered.

Ladybugs can also be stored under refrigeration, slowly consuming their own body fat. If a staggered release of ladybugs into the garden is planned, a large box can be ordered and broken up into several smaller packages. Keep the ladybugs in a mesh bag and lightly spritz them with water every two weeks to keep them moist. If well stored and not allowed to get too cold, the ladybugs can survive for up to three months in the fridge and will revive once they are brought outside.

Mail order ladybugs are also available for educational uses, usually in much small quantities and sometimes with educational tools including a small terrarium for the ladybugs to live in, along with magnifying glasses and an informational pamphlet about ladybugs. This can be a fun way to bring nature into a science classroom, especially for young children in urban areas. Many ladybug supply companies offer discounts to teachers and other educational professionals as well.