Is this spraying proactive or reactive? I've never been one to spray "in case" something might eat my plants, but rather wait until signs of damage and the critters doing it are in evidence. Then, apply only enough to control the immediate problem. Insecticides, no matter how mild, kill the good insects as well as the bad.

Steve

This is a reactive spray. There is obvious damage, but didn't want to spray the whole garden - only where I see damage that is stunting the growth. For instance, I know there is some bug damage to my broccoli leaves, but it isn't affecting the broccoli heads or the growth, so I leave it alone.

You don't mention what bugs are doing the damage. A lady bugs diet only consists of small pests like aphids.

I've been watching my lady bugs lately, of which I do not have many. What I've seen is that, for the most part, they're totally unaware of food around them. I don't know how much walking these guys have to do in order to stumble upon a meal, but they're sure don't seem very adept at sensing a meal nearby.

I actually took one of my ladybugs, placed it on a leaf with a bunch of pink/red aphids on it, and it walked by the whole lot of them several times before I grabbed a plant tag, scooped one up, and put it right in front of the ladybug's face, at which point it immediately grabbed it and shoved it into its mouth. Again and again this happened, and I finally decided I would just keep the ladybug there as long as I could keep finding aphids to scrape off and hand feed it.

I'm sure they do a fine job at devouring aphids on their own or else they would have collectively starved to death by now, and I know the larvae are faster eaters than the adults, but man, was I disappointed to see them walking right by perfectly good food.

Man, spaghetina did that Ladybug hook you and reel you in -LOL! He or she has you hand-feeding them. If I come-back as a Ladybug I want to live at your house.

Greg
Nevada

Lol, I was overly excited to find one at all, so of course, the first thing I did was try and feed it aphids! I'd never seen a bug eating another bug before, so I literally pulled up a stool and sat outside for a good 40 minutes watching it eat.

I've hand fed any others I've been able to find also. It's a good time over here at my place. Unless you're an aphid, that is.

In past years, my roses and oak tree had gotten an aphid infestation. I went to the local nursery chain and bought ladybugs and spread them around. The aphid infestation vanished.

I have not noticed aphids the last two years, but I do see ladybugs.

If you ever have to buy them you can spray them with diluted hummer nectar or diluted soda and their wings will stick together for a few days so they can't fly off.
spaghetina I have to agree with Greg and add why search for food when it comes to you lol. Don't do it too much or you'll end up domesticating them.

The clap boards on the side of my house are kind of loose. the ladybugs crawl up and under the clap boards in the fall to over winter. Mostly on the west side of the house where the side is sunny warm toward evening. I get millions of them in the fall. they cover the house. They seem to come at the same time each fall in big groups extending over a couple of weeks.

I never spray. so I encourage ladybugs. some get into the house to overwinter usually close to a cool window. but some of them die. In the spring I catch them and take them outside. they will appear dead in the winter and come to life in the spring. so do not discard "dead" ones in the middle of winter. they might still be alive.

and go outside and loosen up some of your clapboards in a sunny spot. with a little luck in a few years your population might explode.