Are ladybirds good for your veggie garden?

Yes. Ladybirds (also called ladybugs or lady beetles) are one of the most useful insects you can have in a veggie garden. Both the adults and their larvae are hungry predators of aphids, mites, scale and other soft pests, and a single ladybird can eat dozens of aphids a day.

A quick note on the larvae: young ladybirds look nothing like the adults. They are small, spiky and often black with orange markings, a bit like tiny alligators. They are the biggest eaters of the lot, so it is worth learning to recognise them and leaving them be.

How to attract more ladybirds:

1. Plant flowers among your veggies. Ladybirds feed on nectar and pollen too. Alyssum, marigolds, dill, fennel and yarrow are all good (see companion planting).
2. Go easy on sprays. Harsh insecticides kill ladybirds along with the pests, which leaves you worse off. This is a big reason we favour gentle, targeted options.
3. Leave a few aphids. A small pest population keeps the ladybirds fed and on patrol.
4. Offer water. A shallow dish with a few pebbles gives them a safe drink in hot weather.

Ladybirds do the work of pest control for free, quietly, day and night. Encourage them and you will reach for the spray far less often. For the full picture, see our guide to managing pests safely.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Ferran Pestaña, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.