How to Grow Ladybird Beetles

Purchase ladybird adults from a garden retailer or go out in spring and gather your own. Look for plants with aphid infestations and pluck the adults gently with tweezers. The beetles will excrete an orange fluid when stressed.

Harvest larvae similarly in summer. They look a bit like dinosaurs with their spiny backs and alligator skins. The larvae can also be purchased. Put them in a glass jar with a lid that has air holes punched in it.

Collect aphids with the tweezers and place them in the jar. If you cannot harvest aphids, place a cotton ball soaked in water and a crushed grape for food and moisture. The larvae will continue to molt and can be released in early spring as adults.

Store the adults in the refrigerator to slow them down. They normally overwinter when temperatures become cold. The refrigerator will simulate the cool-winter temperatures. Take the beetles out of the refrigerator every three to four days to warm them up and feed and water them. Then place them back in the refrigerator. You can do this for several weeks until conditions outdoors are ready to release the beetles.

Set the ladybird beetles free in early spring. Release them near your vegetable garden or other plants that commonly get aphid infestations. The beetles will stick around as long as there is plenty of food, but keep in mind they may move on if your garden is healthy and free of pests.