Controlling insects with beneficial insects 

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Lady Bugs or Lady Beetles are often referred to as the Tyranosaurus Rex of the Insect Kingdom

(Hippodamia convergens)   coccinellidae

They are the most common of all beneficial insects, these voracious predators feed on aphids, adelgids, chinch bugs, asparagus beetles larvae, thrips, alfalfa weevils, bean thrips, grape root worms, Colorado potato beetle larvae, whitefly, and mites, as well as many other soft-bodied insects and eggs. And they are cost-effective, too. Ladybugs can be shipped to you in the adult stage. One adult consumes close to a 5,000 aphids. Females lay 10 to 50 eggs daily on the underside of leaves in about a weeks time.  Eggs are usually deposited near aphids,  in small clusters.

Larvae grow from about 1 mm to 6 mm in length and may travel along plant leaves and branches up to 40 feet in search of prey. In 2 to 5 days the larvae emerge as dark alligator-like flightless creatures with orange spots. The larvae eat 50 to 60 aphids per day. After 21 days the larva attaches itself by the abdomen to a leaf or other surface to pupate. Within a week or less the adults emerge depending on the temperature, completing the cycle. Temperatures between 61°F to 82°F are ideal. ladybugs won't fly in the evening or when temperature are 55°F or lower Ladybugs often produce several generations to continue helping the gardener keep the bad guys in check.
Aphid Lions (Green Laewings)
Known as "Aphid Lions," Green Lacewing larvae can consume up to 1,000 aphids in just 1 day! These predators will also devour other problematic mealy bugs, scale, mites, thrips, whitefly larvae, leafminers, and other soft-bodied insects.

Need Lady Bugs? 
We recommend
High Sierra Ladybugs!

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Top quality service and free shipping. Very reasonable prices and lots of information on lady bugs and how they are cared for. A small family run business. Click the photo to be taken to the site.

How to release your lady bugs

Okay your package of lady bugs just arrived and you are anxious to get them out into the garden or around the yard. Hopefully your lady bugs arrived overnight mail or at least by priority mail. They probably are in a net bag and you may have ordered a few thousand.

I order from High Sierra Lady bugs and they are among the best suppliers! Free shipping and great service.

Here is how I release the Lady bugs.
 
Open your box carefully and if they arrived during the day go ahead and store them in the refrigerator at an average 42- 48 degrees temperature. Don't freeze them!
At normal refrigerator temperatures they can be stored for a few weeks. Now we don't want to store them for very long, we want them out asap. Release your lady bugs an  hour before sunset.
Lady bugs don't fly at night. Gently water the release area so the lady bugs can have a drink after a long journey in a box. 

Open your net package and let them crawl out around some of your plants. Release them near plants under attack by aphids. Now move the package to other areas of the yard and release a few more. Don't release them all in one evening, release them over a period of a few days. 
After every release store your extra ladybugs in the refrigerator and release more the next evening. Plan to release them over a three day period.

Okay so you want to get it over with and release them all right away!

Here is what to do. Open the net package and place it at the base of your plants. Spray your lady bugs gently with a 50/50 mix of seven up soda and water. The spray makes the wings stick for a few days and they just climb around all over eat and have a party, make love and lay eggs. Before you know it they are hard at work protecting your plants from aphids and some other bad guys. 
Jason "Pepe"