The Lost Ladybug Project

The Lost Ladybug Project is a website that is trying to collect data on the range of different ladybugs here in North America. The website has a lot of stuff geared to children and is still being built up, but is interesting nonetheless. They ask visitors to collect and photograph ladybugs, giving info on where, when and how they were found. Here is one I found in my garden in about 30 seconds of looking.

They mention on their homepage that exotic species are increasing in North America to the detriment of our native ones. Remember this next time you want to buy and release ladybugs in your garden as pest management. Planting host plants and waiting for them to find your garden seems a better idea.