Griffin Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 My mum has asked if I'll buy her a Ladybird house for her garden as a birthday gift. Has anybody else got one? Do they actually attract ladybirds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I got one as a present a couple of years ago, very pretty, complete with an attractant. Unfortunately the only ladybirds were the ones the grandchildren collected for me on a walk with a jam jar. I didnt feel guilty as at the time I had cherry tree covered in blackfly so plenty of food for them. I am a sucker for animal houses, have one for toads and frogs and another for insects plus a very expensive colony box for sparrows which has been dutifully ignored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Hi, I have a ladybird house, but I don't know if there are any in it without tapping it to see how many fall out (if you see what I mean). I'll go and have a peer up the holes later on. I do have LOTS of 7 spot ladybirds in the garden, but that is because a plum tree came from a nursery smothered in larvae a year or two ago and they have multiplied. If you want something for definite instant results, perhaps try one of these? Solitary bees do lots of pollinating and are always looking for a home? The large one house sits in the back garden, on a sunny south ish facing fence and is put in the garage for November to end March. The cylinder one sits in the east facing front garden, under the gas meter all year. The bees hatch in late April to May. The big house had one bee fill eight holes first year, and has been completely full each year after. The cylinder house has always been pretty full. I found the solid wooden house with a single hole at the front completely useless for bees, but it has sheltered generations of earwigs, woodlice and spiders. Mrs Potts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Maybe get the kids to make a bug house, the personal touch is always nice I think. Someone on here made a freestanding one a while back but one could easily be made from an open face birdbox or wooden seed tray maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Maybe get the kids to make a bug house, the personal touch is always nice I think. You've not met my mother have you? Her house and garden are like a show home, hand made by my kids isn't going to fit in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
