MightyBug – Ladybird adults should be applied at a rate of 10 adults per square meter.

One pack treats either 2.5 or 10 square meters depending on pack size.

• MightyBug – Ladybird adults containing 25 adults treats 2.5m sqm 
• MightyBug – Ladybird adults containing 100 adults treats 10m sqm 

When is it best to use? 

Ladybird adult MightyBugs require temperatures of 12-13°C to be active. In unheated greenhouses or plants grown outdoors this would typically mean it is suitable for use April to October. Naturally in the UK, ladybird adults will hide and be dormant through the colder and shorter daylight hours of our winter months (October to March). Because of this natural behaviour even use indoor during this period may result in lower levels of activity, especially if no artificial light is used.

The problem:

Aphids (also commonly known as greenfly and blackfly) are the most common pest insect for UK gardeners. They are commonly found on a range of ornamental flowers, fruits and vegetables. Feeding on plant sap, they weaken the plants stunting growth and reducing the plants produce be it flowers or food. Aphids also excrete honeydew as they feed which causes sticky deposits on leaves, fruits and working surfaces below them which also results in mould growth. Aphids live in colonies and are able to reproduce at a very fast rate meaning they can change from a few individuals to huge colonies within days. Some adults are winged which allows them to disperse and find new plants to infest, once a new colony is started the majority of the aphids within it will be wingless and so relatively immobile.

Aphids typically live on the underside of leaves and at the soft growing points of the plant. They are small insects which can vary greatly in colour from green to brown to black depending on the species of aphid which is living on the plant. Similar in size and appearance to whitefly, whitefly can be distinguished by their white bodies and wings, also the adult whitefly taking to flight when disturbed whereas winged aphid adults tend to stay on the plant until directly disturbed.   

The product:

MightyBug – Ladybird adults is a natural beneficial predator containing adult stages of the two spotted ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) beetle. A native species to the UK, the two spotted ladybird is a well know gardeners friend with a voracious hunger for eating aphids. Easy to use by simply releasing the pack contents either onto leaf surfaces or into distribution boxes the ladybird adults are ready to go and will immediately start to move around the plant to hunt and eat aphids.

MightyBug – Ladybird adults should be used when pest aphids are present so that there is food for them to eat. Their hunger and ability to consume 60 aphids per day means they will quickly get on top of an aphid infestation. As well as feeding on aphids, they will also feed on aphid and other soft bodies pest insects. Ladybird adults will feed all through the year before over wintering and then starting again the following spring. Using adult ladybirds also offers the advantage of them laying eggs which will hatch it the next generation of MightyBug Ladybirds. 

In the UK, ladybird adults typically hide and are dormant through the winter months. In spring they emerge and start to hunt aphids just as the aphid populations are increasing with warmer weather. Introducing MightyBug Ladybird adults into your greenhouse or garden in spring and summer will support and boost the natural population in your garden allow these beneficial insects to get on top of aphids and other pest insects before they get established and damage your plants. 

Brightly coloured ladybird adults supplied as MightyBugs are easy to spot in their package and ready to go.   

As with all of the MightyBug range, are safe for children, pets, wildlife and the plants you are lovingly tending.

How to use:

As with all MightyBug predators, use immediately upon receipt. Fresh is best!

MightyBug – Ladybird adults are flying predatory beneficial insects. Ensure you are in greenhouse where you plan to release them before opening the pack to ensure any MightyBugs ready to go from the start are released where you intend to use them.

The ladybird adults are easy to spot in the container against the popcorn (not for human consumption) in the packet.

Adult ladybirds are best released in either the cooler early morning or late afternoon.

If the MightyBugs are being released indoors, ensure that the windows and doors are closed to prevent the adult ladybirds immediately flying away and encouraging them to stay on the plants they are being released on to protect. 

Open the container and either leave open for the ladybird adults to leave or for larger packs shake some of the popcorn into distribution boxes hung from leaves in the plant around areas infested with aphids. Care should be taken not to tip the ladybird adults onto the floor or soil as this makes it more likely the adult ladybirds will try and fly away.

If using distribution boxes, they should be hung from leaves on the plant infested with aphids and hung as close to the aphids as possible to make it easier for the ladybird adults to find their food. Distribution boxes should be hung in the shade and not in direct sunlight. MightyBug distribution boxes are used for initial easy beneficial insect introduction. After being released the MightyBugs will not live in the boxes, they will move through the plants hunting for pest insects to eat.  

MightyBug – Ladybird adults should be distributed over the plant area infested with aphid colonies. They are an ideal curative treatment to control hot spot patches of aphid colonies.

Ladybird adults will start to hunt and eat aphids immediately. Adult ladybirds can fly, but if there are enough aphids in the area they will stay on the plants continuing to eat aphids and lay eggs to create future generations of MightyBugs to protect your plants.

Ladybird adults require temperatures of 12-13°C to be active. Naturally in the UK, ladybird adults will hide and be dormant through the colder and shorter daylight hours of our winter months (October to March). Because of this natural behaviour, even use indoor during this period, may result in lower levels of activity, especially if no artificial light is used.

MightyBug – Ladybird adults are an excellent curative treatment to give quick control of established aphid populations. They will eat all development stages of a wide range of aphid species. Ladybird larvae however eat more aphids and therefore for heavy aphid infestations adult ladybirds can be combined with MightyBug – Ladybird larvae for faster aphid control. To combine with a long-term preventative treatment ladybird larvae can be combined with parasitoid wasps for example MightyBug – Aphid predator mix.

Chemical compatibility. We recommend not using chemicals which are known to harm mites or small insects at the same time as MightyBugs. Chemical pesticides often are not specific in what they kill and they can harm beneficial insects at the same time as the pests they are being used against.