Bringing Balance Back: My Experience Using Native Ladybirds for Aphids
- Kate
- Jun 10, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
I was out admiring all the buds starting on the roses, when I noticed clusters of greenfly tucked into every nook, all over the stems and covering all the beautiful buds!
I try to keep my garden as organic as possible, so spraying isn’t an option. I'm always looking for a solution that doesn’t upset the balance I’ve worked hard to build - pollinators, predators, and plants all living together. That’s when I came across native 2-spot ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata) from Green Gardener.
They offer both larvae and adult ladybirds, and they very kindly send me both to try. The little creatures arrived really well packaged in small containers, with full instructions on how to release them into your garden.
Just to note – the ladybirds were kindly gifted by Green Gardener as part of a collaboration, and I’ve shared my honest experience below.
What Greenfly Do (and Why They’re Such a Pain)
If you grow roses, you probably know the feeling. One day they’re full of promise, the next you’re squinting at stems that seem almost fuzzy with aphids. These tiny sap-suckers feed on new growth, weakening the plant and often bringing a host of other problems with them, like stunted growth, sooty mould and ant invasions.
And while they’re not always a death sentence for your plants, they’re definitely a stressor - especially on young or flowering stems. My rose leaves curl, some of the buds fail to open properly, and the whole thing feels out of kilter.
Why 2 Spot Ladybirds
There are lots of ladybird species in the UK, but Adalia bipunctata - the native 2-spot, is a top aphid predator. According to Green Gardener, both adults and larvae feed on aphids, with larvae consuming up to 100 a day. They're voracious, fast-moving, and entirely natural.
I also like that Green Gardener only supplies native ladybirds, not invasive ones like the Harlequin. I think that's important as introducing a natural predator to help with one problem, shouldn't mean creating a new one.
How I Release Them (It’s Surprisingly Easy)
The instructions are really simple to follow. Release during the cooler parts of the day (early morning or evening), when the ladybirds are more likely to settle.
I used a small, soft paintbrush to lift the larvae and adults from their containers and gently place them directly onto my rose stems - right where the aphids are concentrated. It’s slow, peaceful work. Quite therapeutic really.
Once I couldn't see any more in the tubs, I tucked the leftover bits of paper into the muslin bag and hung it into the middle of the rose bush. That way, any stragglers can climb out and find their way to the feast!
What Happens Next
Within a couple of weeks, the difference is noticeable. Aphid numbers dropped dramatically, and the new growth looks much healthier. I loved watching the larvae - long, spiky-looking little things, wandering around the plants keeping watch!
This isn’t an overnight “miracle cure” (and I wouldn’t trust one that claims to be). But it’s effective, gentle, and most importantly, organic. No harm to bees or butterflies, no risk to pets or children, and no damage to the balance of the garden.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Works
Here’s the thing I love about using natural predators: they don’t just remove the pest, they restore the balance. Greenfly are always going to appear, it’s just what happens in a garden but they don’t need to take over.
Introducing ladybirds helps restore balance. It turns your garden into a living ecosystem, where things are always shifting but generally staying in harmony. And as a bonus, it brings a bit of wonder too. There’s something quietly magical about watching an organic army do their thing!
A Few Things I Learnt Along the Way
Ladybird larvae are the real hungry guys! Adults are great too, but the larvae really work hard!
Timing matters. Try not to release them in the heat of the day, early in the morning or in the evening is best. Add a little water to the leaves first so they can have a drink if they're thirsty!
No sprays before or after. Even organic sprays can interfere - let the ladybirds do their thing.
Watch out for ants. If there are a lot of ants on the plants, they may be protecting the aphids because they farm them to feed on the sugary honeydew they produce. You can try gently disturbing the ants, or create a barrier (like a sticky band or Vaseline) at the base of the plant to help keep them away.
This is a gifted product from Green Gardener, and they've given me a discount code to share with you. Use HOMEGROWNBLOOMS at the checkout and receive 10% off (code valid until 30 June 2025) if you’d like to give them a go. I wouldn’t share something if it wasn't something I'd tried myself. I'll definitely be ordering again next year to make sure I'm ahead of the aphids!
If you’ve got any questions about how I use them, how to tell the larvae apart from other bugs, or anything else, feel free to ask in the comments or drop me a message. I’m always happy to chat about what’s working (or not!) in the garden.
Here’s the link to the ladybirds larvae:
Here’s the link to the adult ladybirds:
Thanks for reading, and happy (greenfly-free) growing
Kate x🌿
This post contains affiliate links and features gifted products. That means I may earn a small commission if you choose to buy using my discount code. Thank you for supporting my blog, it helps me to keep sharing honest experiences from the garden.
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