Would you like to grow your own ladybug colony for your garden or are you simply interested in closely observing the developmental stages of the little ladybug? Only fresh! Because with simple means you can build your own vivarium.
Breeding ladybugs is not difficult at all
Good arguments for the targeted rearing of ladybugs
Breeding ladybirds yourself naturally has horticultural advantages. After all, the likeable fellows are hard-working pest killers and can effectively decimate aphids in particular. On the other hand, it is also exciting to follow the development of the beetle from the egg to the adult imago up close. Such a project can awaken dormant biological interest, especially in children.
Own ladybug breeding
Various ready-made breeding kits for raising ladybirds, including additional material for documentation and playful implementation, are available on the Internet. But you can also easily set up your vivarium yourself. You don't need much for this:
- A large, approx. one liter capacity glass
- A piece of insect protection net
- A rubber band
- 1-2 pieces of crepe paper
- Plants infested with aphids
- And of course ladybugs
1. Prepare the vivarium
First, prepare the jar for your expectant ladybug colony as a small species-appropriate oasis. This must be done in the spring, around April. To do this, first line the glass floor with crepe paper that has been folded several times. It is meant to keep moisture in small amounts, similar to cress seeds on the windowsill.
2. Stock the vivarium
Then go outside to look for the first aphid-infested plants. The lice initially reproduce asexually in the spring and are very productive. You may also find aphids or scale insects on your indoor plants.
At the same time, you are already on the lookout for ladybugs. You have a good chance of discovering some when searching through dense bushes, piles of leaves or nettle tuffs. The animals like to stay in such sheltered places after the winter. Of course you need a bit of luck to catch males and females. Unfortunately, they don't differ at all from the outside.
Alternatively, you can also collect ladybird larvae from the undersides of leaves and stems later in the year, around mid-May. Of course, the spectacle of the mating is then withheld from you.
Carefully collect lice-infested plant stems and leaves and the ladybugs and place them in the jar.
3. Close and maintain air-permeable
After filling, close the glass with the piece of insect gauze and fasten it with the rubber band. Put it in a warm place, protected from direct sun. For maintenance, the vivarium must be moistened daily with a water disperser. Also make sure that the ladybugs always get supplies of plant parts infested with aphids or scale insects and also some honey.
4. Observe
Now you can follow the development of your own lucky charms. After mating, the female will hopefully lay eggs on the leaves of plants in the vivarium. The larvae hatch after about 5-8 days. Now you have to provide more aphid replenishment so that the larvae don't eat each other. It takes another 1-2 months to pupate. After that, the finished beetles hatch with the species-specific coloring! Now you can release them and enjoy their gardening help or just their friendly, pretty company.