Yes they will come back. And soon.

The reason: All you need do is miss one. They're all females and don't need to mate during the growing season. Her kids are born live (not from eggs) and are pregnant from the get go.

Thus the key to success is to inspect your plants every day or so, then manage the beasts immediately. Squish or wash off.

Don't use any pesticides. Ma Nature doesn't waste a food source. Very shortly you will find ladybugs in your garden and they will control the aphids.

The link below, from the GW IPM Forum (Integrated Pest Management) shows ladybugs in action.

I have a few aphids here because I have a LOT of ladybugs. I didn't buy a bag of them--just let Ma Nature wing them in on her own. If you want to buy a bag of ladybugs contact a large nursery in your area to see if they have them in stock. Hicks, in Westbury, usually stocks them, but do call just the same.

T

Here is a link that might be useful: Lady Bugs munching on aphids.

I don't get ladybeetles in great numbers like Trudi (Just a few here n there) so I order and release green lacewing eggs and between the ladybugs and lacewing larva aphids haven't got a chance. Integrated Pest management works great NATURALLY!

Thank you all for all the great advice. Trudi, those pictures are amazing, I am getting some ladybugs from a nursery in Nesconset, 1500 for $10. Anybody know if it's a good deal? Also, any ideas how to keep them from flying away?

Thanks,
Erik

Erik, here in NC I have seen 1500 Ladybugs priced between $9 and $12. I'd say get some! The nursery will explain how to release them. They had them refridgerated, and told me to take them out of the fridge in the morning, let them hang out in the house all day, then during evening, release them after watering. Knock on wood I have not seen any aphids! Hope the ladybugs reproduced...I haven't seen many lately, but then again, I don't have any aphids for them to eat!

Thanks, ditnc.

I am getting those ladybugs tomorrow!

Erik

Good luck Erik, I hope it works out well for you. I love IPM; it's smart, it's usually low cost, and there's very little (if any) damage to the environment.

bigdaddy, where do you order the green lacewing eggs?

shnnn, Garden's Alive. They are pretty cheap if you get the half price off catalog. They arrive exactly when you want them in good condition. For me that's June 1. The eggs are just starting to hatch. You sprinkle the medium on some wet leaves in problem areas and in a few days the battle begins...:)