Ladybugs Were Released as Pest Control in Leisure World of Maryland
Residents attended (wearing red if possible!) the release of thousands of ladybugs in the community on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22 in Pollinator Park, located near the intersection of Leisure World Boulevard and Gleneagles Drive.
Leisure World’s grounds crew and landscaping contractor McFall and Berry Inc. released more than 200,000 ladybugs throughout the community’s Trust properties and in some mutuals on that day.
Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles, serve as natural pest control by consuming aphids, mites and mealybugs, thus reducing the need for chemical pesticides in landscapes and gardens that can harm the environment, according to Grounds supervisor Aaron Tenley.
Research has shown that releasing pest predators leads to fewer pests and less plant damage, he added. By maintaining a balance in insect populations, ladybugs support sustainable gardening and farming.
And like bees and butterflies, ladybugs also act as pollinators, feeding on the nectar of flowers.
McFall and Berry has released more than four million beneficial insects in Leisure World over about 10 years. The release of ladybugs in Leisure World has become something of an annual tradition.
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