Ladybirds are a welcome sight in any backyard. Not only are they colourful and lovely to watch, but they also eat up aphids from your plants and help keep your garden healthy.
This Ladybird House makes a creative addition to any garden. It will be used by ladybirds and other insects in winter. Adult help is required to make this project.
Your ladybird house can help attract ladybirds to your garden or encourage those you release to stick around.
You will need
- A piece of plywood
- Logs (at least 10 cm wide)
- Bamboo canes
- Twigs
- Screws
- Nails
- Wire
- Power drill
- Hand saw
Instructions
- Screw and wire together the logs to make a frame.
- Cut the plywood to the shape of the frame and nail it to the back.
- Cut the bamboo canes into pieces the same depth as the frame.
- Cut pieces of log the same depth as the frame.
- Use a drill to make holes around 5 mm in diameter in the log pieces.
- Stack the bamboo and log pieces into the frame. Push them in as tightly as possible so they don’t fall out.
- Fill any gaps with twigs.
- Make a loop from wire to hang it from.
- Hang on a wall, ideally facing into the morning sun. Position it near plants because ladybirds like to eat aphids. If it is low down and near a pond it may be used by dragonflies and solitary bees too.
Ladybird Tip
Avoid using chemicals and pesticides in the garden as they can deter good bugs like ladybirds that want to eat up your aphids for free. Leave little unknown bugs as they could grow into ladybirds. Lure ladybirds to your garden by making a concoction of honey, water and brewers yeast. Spread it in the garden and ladybirds will visit.
Be a backyard buddy
It’s easy. All you have to do is care… and take a few simple steps. Backyard Buddies are the native plants and animals that share our urban areas, waterways, backyards and parks. Backyard Buddies are also the people who value native wildlife and want to protect it.
Find out more about your buddies
www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies
SIGN UP: to receive regular B-mails about animals you’re likely to see in your backyard with tips on how to make your backyard friendly for them.
