Allen Smith and Ladybugs

	On a recent TV segment, Allen Smith suggested that we all run out and buy containers of 1500 ladybugs to release in our gardens to eat the aphids and other "bad" bugs.

	Unfortunately, some aphid larvae also eat eggs - their own brothers' and sisters' eggs. (Article) If they do that, they might also eat butterfly eggs.

An article from the Entomological Society of America (click here), did tests with the Asian Lady Beetle and Monarch larvae. When no other prey species were available, NONE of the Monarch larvae survived. Even when large amounts of aphids were present, 27 percent of larvae were killed.

The moral of the story - keep your money in your pocket - don't buy ladybugs for the butterfly garden.