What Do Ladybirds Eat? A Complete Guide to Ladybird Diets
Ladybirds (also known as ladybugs) are among the most welcome visitors to gardens, allotments, and green spaces. Loved for their bright colours and gentle nature, they’re far more than just attractive insects — they are powerful natural pest controllers. Understanding what ladybirds eat helps gardeners encourage healthy populations and reduce reliance on chemical treatments.
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This complete guide explores exactly what ladybirds eat at every life stage, how their diet changes through the seasons, which pests they control best, and how you can support ladybirds naturally in your garden.
⭐ Recommended Garden Products to Support Ladybird Diets Naturally
Encouraging ladybirds isn’t about feeding them directly — it’s about creating the right environment where their natural food sources thrive safely.
• Insect Hotels / Bug Houses
Provide shelter for adult ladybirds, especially during winter and bad weather, keeping them close to their food sources.
👉 Click here to see top options
• Soft Plant Ties & Canes
Healthy, supported plants attract aphids — which in turn attract ladybirds. Stressed or damaged plants are less effective.
👉 Click here to see top options
• Organic Aphid Control (Non-Chemical)
Useful for severe infestations where you want to protect plants without harming ladybirds or their larvae.
👉 Click here to see top options
• Companion Plant Seeds (Marigold, Dill, Fennel, Nasturtium)
These plants attract aphids and nectar sources that support ladybirds throughout the season.
👉 Click here to see top options
Why Ladybird Diets Matter
Ladybirds are predatory insects, meaning they actively hunt other insects for food. Their diet plays a crucial role in:
- Natural pest control
- Protecting crops and ornamentals
- Maintaining ecological balance
- Reducing the need for pesticides
A single ladybird can consume thousands of pests in its lifetime, making them one of the most beneficial insects in any garden.
The Primary Food: Aphids
Aphids (Greenfly & Blackfly)
Aphids are by far the favourite and most important food source for ladybirds.
Why aphids are ideal:
- Soft-bodied and easy to consume
- Found in large colonies
- High in nutrients
- Present throughout the growing season
An adult ladybird can eat 50–100 aphids per day, while a single larva may consume up to 400 aphids before pupating.
This makes ladybirds especially valuable on:
- Roses
- Broad beans
- Peas
- Fruit trees
- Brassicas
- Houseplants
What Else Do Ladybirds Eat?
Although aphids are their main food, ladybirds are not picky eaters when it comes to soft-bodied pests.
1. Scale Insects
Ladybirds feed on scale insects that attach themselves to stems and leaves, particularly on shrubs, citrus plants, and houseplants.
2. Mealybugs
These cottony pests are another favourite, especially for ladybirds in greenhouses and indoor growing spaces.
3. Whitefly
Ladybirds will eat whitefly eggs and larvae, making them useful in polytunnels and glasshouses.
4. Spider Mites
Some species feed on mites, particularly when aphids are scarce.
5. Insect Eggs
Ladybirds consume the eggs of various pest insects, preventing future infestations.
This broad diet makes ladybirds reliable pest controllers even when aphid numbers fluctuate.
Do Ladybirds Eat Plants?
Mostly no — but there are exceptions.
Plant-Eating Ladybirds
A small number of ladybird species feed on plants rather than insects. These are rare in UK gardens and are more common in warmer climates.
Pollen and Nectar
When prey is scarce, adult ladybirds may supplement their diet with:
- Pollen
- Nectar
- Honeydew (a sugary substance produced by aphids)
This doesn’t make them harmful — it simply helps them survive until pest populations return.
What Do Ladybird Larvae Eat?
Ladybird larvae look nothing like adult ladybirds — often mistaken for pests themselves — but they are even more voracious hunters.
Larval diet includes:
- Aphids (primary food)
- Scale insects
- Mites
- Whitefly larvae
- Small soft-bodied insects
Larvae must eat constantly to grow, which is why seeing larvae on your plants is a very good sign.
Do Ladybirds Eat at Every Life Stage?
Eggs
Ladybird eggs do not eat. They are often laid near aphid colonies so larvae have immediate access to food after hatching.
Larvae
This is the most destructive feeding stage, responsible for the majority of pest control.
Pupae
Ladybirds do not eat during pupation.
Adults
Adults feed regularly but at a slower rate than larvae.
Each stage plays a role in controlling pests across the growing season.
Seasonal Changes in Ladybird Diet
Spring
- Aphids begin to appear
- Ladybirds emerge from hibernation
- Feeding resumes quickly
Summer
- Peak feeding and breeding season
- High aphid consumption
- Larvae most active
Autumn
- Feeding slows
- Ladybirds build energy reserves
- Seek shelter
Winter
- Ladybirds do not eat
- They hibernate in sheltered locations
Providing food sources during spring and summer is critical for strong populations.
How Many Pests Can Ladybirds Eat?
Estimated consumption rates:
- Adult ladybird: 5,000 aphids per lifetime
- Ladybird larva: 300–400 aphids before pupation
- A small colony: thousands of pests per week
This natural control is far more sustainable than chemical sprays.
What Ladybirds Do NOT Eat
Ladybirds do not eat:
- Leaves (with rare exceptions)
- Roots
- Fruit
- Wood
- Healthy plant tissue
- Humans or animals
They are completely harmless to people, pets, and plants.
How to Attract Ladybirds by Supporting Their Diet
To encourage ladybirds, you need to support their food chain — not remove it entirely.
Allow Low-Level Aphids
Total aphid eradication removes ladybird food. Tolerate small populations.
Avoid Chemical Pesticides
Most sprays kill ladybirds and larvae as effectively as pests.
Grow Aphid-Attracting Plants
Plants that commonly attract aphids (and therefore ladybirds) include:
- Nasturtiums
- Broad beans
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Sweet peas
Provide Shelter
Ladybirds stay where food and shelter are reliable.
Are Ladybirds Used for Biological Control?
Yes — especially in greenhouses.
Ladybirds are sometimes introduced deliberately to control:
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Whitefly
This method is widely used in organic and commercial growing systems because it’s effective and chemical-free.
Myths About Ladybird Diets
Myth: Ladybirds eat anything green
False — they target insects, not plants.
Myth: Ladybirds don’t eat much
False — they are among the most efficient pest predators.
Myth: All ladybirds eat the same food
False — diets vary slightly by species, but aphids dominate.
Why Ladybirds Are Better Than Chemical Sprays
Ladybirds:
- Target pests selectively
- Don’t harm pollinators
- Don’t contaminate soil
- Don’t cause pest resistance
- Reproduce naturally
Chemical sprays often:
- Kill beneficial insects
- Require repeat applications
- Disrupt ecosystems
- Create long-term pest problems
Encouraging ladybirds is a long-term solution, not a quick fix.
Common Mistakes That Reduce Ladybird Food Sources
- Overusing insecticides
- Removing all aphids immediately
- Tidying gardens too aggressively
- Removing winter shelter
- Using systemic treatments
Gardens that look “too clean” often lack beneficial insects.
Final Thoughts
Ladybirds are natural allies in the garden, and their diet is the key to their effectiveness. By feeding primarily on aphids and other soft-bodied pests, they protect plants, improve yields, and maintain balance without chemicals.
If you want more ladybirds, don’t try to feed them directly — support the insects they eat, protect their habitat, and avoid harmful sprays. Do that, and ladybirds will happily do the rest.