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Live Ladybugs
Hippodamia convergens
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$28
Natural aphid control for gardens, greenhouses, and grows.
Best for Aphid pressure
Choosing beneficials
Ladybugs vs lacewings.
Two of the most-used biological controls in agriculture — and they're not interchangeable. Here's how to choose.
Direct answer
Ladybugs vs lacewings — which should I buy?
Pick ladybugs if aphids are your main pest, especially in gardens. Pick green lacewings for mixed pest pressure (aphids + thrips + whiteflies + mites), especially in greenhouses or indoor grows. They’re excellent together.
- Ladybugs: best for aphid colonies & soft-bodied pests
- Lacewings: best for mixed pest pressure
- Lacewings excel in greenhouses and indoor grows
- Pair them for layered control
- Both are safe for plants, pets, and people
Ladybugs vs green lacewings — side by side
| Attribute | Live Ladybugs | Green Lacewings |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hippodamia convergens | Chrysoperla rufilabris |
| Primary targets | Aphids, mealybug crawlers, scale crawlers, whitefly nymphs | Aphids, thrips, whiteflies, spider mites, mealybugs, small caterpillar eggs |
| Best environment | Gardens, greenhouses, indoor grows | Greenhouses, indoor grows, mixed pest pressure |
| Ships as | Adult beetles | Eggs or larvae (season-dependent) |
| Release method | Open container at base of plants at dusk | Sprinkle eggs/larvae onto leaves near pests |
| Best timing | Dusk, 55–80°F | Dusk, mild temperatures |
| Dispersal risk | Higher in open gardens (mitigate with staged release) | Lower — stays where placed |
| Typical starting count | 1,500–3,000 for home gardens | 500–1,500 eggs per release |
| Storage | Refrigerate 35–45°F | Refrigerate 38–45°F, use within 3–5 days |
| Best for | Aphid-dominant pressure | Mixed pest pressure & enclosed environments |
Live Ladybugs
- Scientific name
- Hippodamia convergens
- Primary targets
- Aphids, mealybug crawlers, scale crawlers, whitefly nymphs
- Best environment
- Gardens, greenhouses, indoor grows
- Ships as
- Adult beetles
- Release method
- Open container at base of plants at dusk
- Best timing
- Dusk, 55–80°F
- Dispersal risk
- Higher in open gardens (mitigate with staged release)
- Typical starting count
- 1,500–3,000 for home gardens
- Storage
- Refrigerate 35–45°F
- Best for
- Aphid-dominant pressure
Green Lacewings
- Scientific name
- Chrysoperla rufilabris
- Primary targets
- Aphids, thrips, whiteflies, spider mites, mealybugs, small caterpillar eggs
- Best environment
- Greenhouses, indoor grows, mixed pest pressure
- Ships as
- Eggs or larvae (season-dependent)
- Release method
- Sprinkle eggs/larvae onto leaves near pests
- Best timing
- Dusk, mild temperatures
- Dispersal risk
- Lower — stays where placed
- Typical starting count
- 500–1,500 eggs per release
- Storage
- Refrigerate 38–45°F, use within 3–5 days
- Best for
- Mixed pest pressure & enclosed environments
Both are commonly used in certified-organic operations. Results depend on environment, timing, and proper IPM practice.
When to use both
Greenhouse IPM
Combine lacewings (broad coverage) with ladybugs deployed against any aphid hot-spots. Add beneficial nematodes for soil pests.
Indoor / cannabis grow
Lacewings handle the mixed pest profile common in enclosed grows. Pair with ladybug larvae for fast knockdown on active aphid colonies.
Outdoor garden
Ladybugs lead. Add lacewings when whiteflies, thrips, or mites appear on top of aphid pressure.
Commercial program
Both species feature in most commercial IPM programs we design. Request a custom program.
Shop both species
Best Seller
Live arrival
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Broad-spectrum predator — sometimes called "aphid lions."
Best for Mixed pest pressure
Live arrival
Our recommended pairing for serious aphid pressure.
Best for Aphid hotspots
New
Live arrival
A balanced beneficial program for greenhouse environments.
Best for Greenhouses
Frequently asked questions
Ladybugs or lacewings — which one should I buy? +
If aphids are your main pest, start with ladybugs. If you have mixed pests (aphids + thrips + whiteflies + mites) or you grow in a greenhouse or indoor environment, lacewings are usually the better choice. The two are excellent together.
Can I use ladybugs and lacewings at the same time? +
Yes — they coexist well and target different pest profiles. A common pairing is ladybugs for aphid colonies plus lacewings for everything else.
Do ladybugs eat thrips and spider mites? +
Adult ladybugs feed primarily on aphids and other soft-bodied pests. They are not the most effective predator for thrips or mature spider mites — green lacewings are the stronger choice there.
Which is easier to release? +
Ladybugs come as adults, so the release is straightforward (open the container at dusk). Lacewings often ship as eggs or larvae — you sprinkle them onto leaves near the pests.
Which lasts longer in the environment? +
Lacewings tend to persist longer in enclosed environments. Ladybug adults can disperse from open gardens; staged releases mitigate this.