What Do Ladybugs Eat?

The bright, colorful ladybug is a beloved insect throughout the world. Though small, ladybugs can do a lot of good around your garden. But before you welcome them with open arms, you need to know what they need to eat to stay healthy and help you with your gardening.

A Balanced Diet For Ladybugs

Like other insects, ladybugs need a balanced diet to support their life cycle. They require a wide range of food sources, including plant sap, fungi and tiny insects like aphids, mites, mealybugs and leafhoppers. A majority of their diet comes from small insects like aphids which makes them incredibly beneficial in the garden.

Aphids are known for their destructive nature which makes ladybugs a great ally for gardeners. When you have a large infestation of aphids, ladybugs will eagerly chomp away at them and help keep the population under control. Ladybugs are also keen on a variety of mildew and fungi which allows for a more balanced approach to pest control.

But ladybugs don’t just focus their eating habits on tiny insects, they will also enjoy nectar from flowers and honeydew from aphids. Ladybugs can go without food for up to a month, so in times of drought they are still able to survive and offer their pest control services.

The Benefits of Having Ladybugs Around

Ladybugs provide tons of benefits to your garden, such as eating pests that can damage plants and pollinating flowers. When it comes to pest control, they reduce the need to use pesticides and help maintain a healthy population of beneficial insects. Ladybugs will swiftly hunt other harmful insects like mites and mealybugs, and they are a great ally against destructive aphids.

If you’re looking to attract ladybugs to your garden, plants like dill, calendula, and yarrow are known to be great attractants. Also, by avoiding pesticide use you are making sure that ladybugs can munch away at their favorite pests without harm.

It’s important to remember that ladybugs require a balanced diet and have a wide range of tastes for the various food sources available in the garden. A well nourished population of ladybugs is the best way to ensure their continued service in keeping your garden a safe, healthy place.