A final word on Ladybugs

In the last couple years I have posted about ladybugs – specifically buying them from your local hardware store to use in the garden. I received a lot of comments (and more criticism that I expected) for suggesting such a thing.

A smattering of arguments against the practice:

They’re invasive in my area.
They aren’t sustainably raised.
They're over harvested from their natural environment(s).

Do you ever feel like whenever you try to make the best decision possible, there is always information out there that you can point to in direct opposition of your decision or the information you've researched? For example:

I like meat. Mmm. Steak.
Steak tastes good.
Eating steak is bad for the environment.
Make sure that you eat beef finished on grass - it's better for the environment.
But beef finished on corn marbles better.
Beef is bad for you – think of the cholesterol and saturated fat!
But what about the French Paradox?
People need to eat more protein – meat being a chief source of it.
Corn prices are going up as corn is diverted to make biofuel
….I’ll leave it at that even though I could keep going

[Yes, these are all things I've heard or read RECENTLY about eating meat.]

Oh lordy. Just think about all the little decisions that you have to make! As someone who lives under the “Earth Day is everyday” umbrella, these little decisions quickly become overwhelming, and everyone has an opinion that they’re more than happy to share with you no matter what decision you come to. (I guess that's what pregnant women have to deal with to the n^th degree...)

I’ve used purchased ladybugs in my garden for the last couple years. However, how would you feel if I told you it was a stop-gap measure until my little property could support its own ladybug population? I never planned on buying ladybugs forever. I just wanted to get to a point where my yard sustained its own population - it only took 2.5 years.

My friends, we have ladybugs. EVERYWHERE. Larvae, eggs, and adults.


Quick edit: Pictured clockwise from left: Pupal stage, adult, mid-larva stage
Eggs not pictured - they had already hatched in the couple days between the mental birth of this post and the picture taking stage! For more pictures, info visit Wikipedia.

Plus they’re giving me an excuse not to mow my back lawn.

So folks, make the decisions that are best for you AND mindful for the environment simultaneously. Don't let the tsunami of available information on both sides of every decision/subject paralyze you from making necessary decisions. You’ll never please everyone all the time.

And buying ladybugs isn't the worst environmental decision one could make...