It’s definitely spring here in Florida and we are getting busy in the garden! In anticipation of the bad garden bugs who like to appear as the weather starts to warm up we released about 1,500 ladybugs into the garden today!

They come in a packet already pre-fed and everything! We got ours from a local farmer friend for $10. The company website on the packet we have says: www.TipTopBio.com in case you are interested. But I see that they also sell them here and in smaller amounts here.

If you’re wondering why in the world we released this massive amount of ladybugs into the garden well the answer is simple– organic pest control! Ladybugs are a super beneficial insect to have around your garden.  They “eat aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and other soft-bodied insects” that may try to attack our veggie crops this spring/summer.

The kids had a fab time cutting open the bag and watching them all start to crawl out! 
Jonathan cutting the bag open being careful not to cut his sister’s fingers! 
So much fun watching them escape out of one little snippet he made to the bag.
Ladybug release party… and my radishes in the background. Yum!
Did you know ladybugs can bite?! Although not common, it does happen sometimes. We learned that today when we went to pick up our ladybugs so I reminded the kids of that and as soon as they would see one on their hands they would quickly blow them off. Jonathan still wanted to play with them so he decided to pick up some leaves and hold them that way. My smart little fella’! 
A friendly ladybug climbing his hand. 
 “Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home…”
Fun times with our ladybug friends!

The kids played with the ladybugs for about an hour. Scooping them up with leaves, blowing them off the leaves, watching them fly, trying to count the spots on each, etc. Even if you don’t garden this would be a fun activity to do with kids of any age. And a great way to get them outdoors!

That face! I love my sweetie so much. 
Here’s hoping those of you up north get some toasty weather your way soon!

One reply on “1,500 Ladybugs!!

  • Jessica

    I love this =) I plan on gardening at our new house as well and this is pretty cool to do with the kids. I have a 3 year old son and I’m sure he’d have fun seeing the ladybugs all over

    Reply

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