Talkback: Ladybird nursery

Viv Randles2

I have a real struggle with aphids being farmed by ants on the philadelphus (on which they almost completely wiped out the flowers this year), and more recently on the broadbeans. These are in the back garden, and we have lots of ladybirds in the front garden, but they never seem to make it round to where they could feast to their stomachs' content. Will it upset the ladybirds if I try carrying them that far away from their present location? I don't want to wreck their nesting pattern and thereby risk driving them away.

Dave Morgan

You'll do them no harm by catching them up and putting them on the affected plants. A new food source encourages breeding, so they will produce new larvae who will feast on the aphids readily. 

Dovefromabove

Fleurisa

You need to sort out the ant problem first as ants will kill ladybirds