Yes, we do know that Ladybird beetles eat caterpillars AND butterfly eggs. Praying mantids eat butterflies and caterpillars as well. I raise both but only keep the mantids out in the front yard with the roses. Mantids are an interesting creature as they will patrol a designated area and rarely stray outside of that particular area.

If you raise butterflies and don't want your Ladybugs to eat 'em (the early instar larvae and eggs) then you must be very diligent in collecting them!

It's definitely a catch-22...I use a strong spray of water to hose off the !@#$% Oleander Aphids. I used to purchase loads of Ladybird Beetles. Now I have a bunch that like to breed right in my garden so I don't have to do anything! There's plenty for them to munch and I rarely worry about the butterfly eggs/early instars since I collect them. And, if the Ladybugs get to them first, well, then so be it!

For me, this summer the !@#$% Milkweed Bugs (both large and small) were more of a pest...I actually completely tore up an entire Milkweed patch because of them. Grrr...

How do you get them to do that. Id love not to buy them.

Jwolf11508,

I think the only way to get Ladybugs to take up residence is to have enough prey present in your yard full time to keep them satisfied. So, keep planting native plants that attract lots of different insects.

Martha

There were millions all over my monarda, and the real red ladybugs showed up, ate them all and left about two weeks later.