Do ladybugs work indoors for pest control?

Ladybug control rarely works inside due to differences in their environmental conditions. These beetles were designed for hunting in the open, artificial lighting disrupts the predator orientation, and dry indoor air robs them of their delicate wings. Most ladybugs released indoors escape through cracks or die within a few days of being inside if it doesn't have anything to eat.

For persistent aphids found indoors on houseplants, it is ah-wise to isolate the infested specimens. We recommend spraying the infested plants outdoors with diluted castile soap and rinsing them off before bringing them back inside. Taking a contained approach like this also helped, on one occasion, eliminate mealybugs on an orchid collection for a client who did not want to release beetles in their temperature-controlled sunroom.

Close off potential entry points to lessen the chances of them accidentally entering your home. Adding 1mm mesh screens to all vents and weatherstripping around the doorways can help. One Minnesota cabin owner reported a 70% decrease in ladybug beetles using a more permanent solution by adding copper mesh screens into the gaps of an old cabin wall. This solution lasts much longer than a chemical repellent.

Prefer targeted solutions to biocontrol indoors. Fungus gnats hovering around plants can be captured with sticky traps, and booklice can be managed with desiccant dust. These methods target pests specifically without negative side effects on beneficial ladybug populations outdoors that support your garden ecosystem.

Read the full article: Ladybugs Pest Control: Benefits and Risks