Yeah, they work pretty well - a great alternative to chemicals. They devour aphids, but can be tricky to keep around after you let them go. I have heard that releasing them in the evening, chilling them before you let them go, and spraying leaves with sugar will entice them to explore before taking off.

There are other good guys too. Just search "beneficial insects". Good luck!

I have never introduced ladybugs but there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

Firstly, they, and especially their larvae, will only eat aphids, not all nuisance bugs.

Secondly, once you release them they will only stick around if there are enough aphids to feed on. So if you want them to be a deterrent to prevent aphids from coming that won't work.

I have found that they always turn up without any help if there are aphids to eat. I even spotted one in a window box this morning which is up on the second floor of my house. Somehow it had found that there were some aphids on the violas.

I would suggest that your group spends some time identifying what pests you have and assessing the amount of damage they are doing. Then research targetted methods of removal. If you do find lots of aphids ladybugs might be an answer.

I agree with much of the above. We release Ladybugs once or twice a year in our veggy/flower gardens. They will quickly consume all of the aphids at hand and then leave for greener pastures. So, if you have a aphid problem, get lady bugs, thats seems to be their only diet. If you have other troble insects look at netting for all of the carrot % cabbage family and dish soap in water for your tomato/pepper bugs.

all good advice. It is much better to have them, though. In my case, they overwinter in my garage, 10 ft from the garden, so my aphid problems start in late october when they go to bed. also, they bite. no lump or rash, but they bite. it's the asian ladybugs, which are those you buy on the internet.

For a more long-term solution, I would suggest planting the edges of your community garden with plants that attracted predator insects (those that eat the pest insects). Great Garden Companions by Sally Cunningham is an excellent book that explains which plants attract which predator insects. I have done this and have had great success.

I would also suggest putting up many wren houses in an area near the garden - but not for the wrens. Paperwasps will use the birdhouses for their nests and I have found that paperwasps are the single best destroyer of pest insects. They won't eat everything, but they *completely* control the cabbage worms and leaf miners in my garden. I've watched them eat other pests, but I can't remember which right now.

Good luck with your garden,
Bellatrix

Here is a link that might be useful: Great Garden Companions

I also recommend scattering dill and coriander seeds and let them resow. The Dill blooms bring in all kinds of predatory wasps and the coriander blooms are small and white, just to the ladybugs preference.