attracting ladybirds

[crichmond]

I got a ladybird house and put it up at the lotty, is there anything I need to do this coming year to get them to nest their.

Thanks Chris

[daisydaisy]

Hiaa, i just got a ladybird house aswell..so i'll also be interested to see what people suggest
i do know that you can get a powder from garden centres which attracts ladybirds..you just sprinkle it in the house..i might try that
x

[smallblueplanet]

Well, nice fluffy towels and some tea-making facilities might do it?

I guess if you've got aphids to attract the ladybirds? Do they hibernate in the box over winter then?

[daisydaisy]

i think they do..but don't take my word for it :P
you are supposed to put the box's up in early spring and near to vegetation..thats all i know really haha x

[crichmond]

yeah I think the main purpose is to give them somewhere to hibernate in winter so you keep them year after year.

[Farmer_Gyles]

i've never heard of ladybird houses .... must google it to find out more .......

[whigger]

i've never heard of ladybird houses .... must google it to find out more .......

I think even Argos sell them now although they call them Bug Boxes.

Buy Bug Box Twin Pack. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

[pigletwillie]

Or even cheaper, try making one yourself like this. You dont even need the wooden surround, just cut old canes to 6" lengths and tie a bundle together before hanging in a sheltered position.

[Farmer_Gyles]

these are cool
our cub pack normally make bird or bat boxes on cub camp - they could make ladybird boxes instead this year .......
i'm gonna make one

[Newbie]

My house is one big Ladybird house, keep finding them everyday in the bathroom & bedroom!

[Ethansmum]

Do they actually work though?

[AllieB]

If you are finding them in the house and in large numbers they are probally the none native harlequin varitey, which like a lot of other non-native animals is out performing our native ladybirds.

Harlequin Ladybird Survey - home
the above site has plenty of info plus an article about why the harlequins are a concern
Harlequin Ladybird Survey - Origins
Much as I love ladybirds I am not sure I would like a few thousand as house guests.

[jeannine]

I've got a choisya ternata (which is a pretty evergreen shrub with white flowers) and it's covered in clusters of ladybirds. I don't know if it's just a safe place for them to hibernate or they are there because they think there will be lots of aphids on it when the weather warms up, but they certainly seem to love it!

[Epsom Gardener]

Tansy & Yarrow (grows as a weed in grass all over the place) attract ladybirds. I planted Yarrow and after 3 months shoots were coming up 2 feet away, so I pulled it up and planted it in a big plastic pot and buried the pot. Keeps it under control

[Farmer_Gyles]

just picked up a ladybird house and bee house in sainsburys for £3.99 each
was going to make them with my son but we just haven't got round to to it yet - we will still do them when we get a bit of spare time ....