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Will ladybugs ruin my garden?

Q:

Can ladybugs kill plants in my vegetable garden?

A:

Thank you for your question! Don't worry—ladybugs do not eat plant material.

Aphids are a notorious pest that can devastate a garden, and ladybugs actually eat the aphids. In this regard, ladybugs can actually be beneficial.

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A Pocket Guide to Common Natural Enemies of Nursery Crops and Garden Pests in the Pacific Northwest

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Melissa Scherr, Robin Rosetta, Lloyd Nackley | Mar 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

holding gardening tools
Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Gardening techniques, Insects

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