Ladybug Day 2013
Saturday, April 20
10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Calling all ladybug lovers and citizen scientists--please join us in participating in the “Lost Ladybug Project” sponsored by Cornell University. We will be searching the garden for ladybugs and reporting our information back to Cornell University. In addition, there will be lots of craft activities located in the Eucalyptus Grove by Seeds of Wonder and a release of ladybugs at noon to benefit our garden.

Again this year the San Dieguito Garden Club will be in the Ecke building doing flower arranging. Children will be able to make their own fresh flower creation to take home.

Cost: Free with admission or membership.
Small fee for crafts

Ladybug Search Teams • 10:30 am and 11:30 am
Join one of our ladybug search teams to three different areas in the garden. Meet in the parking lot next to the Seeds of Wonder picnic area. FREE activity

Ladybug Parade and Ladybug Release • 11:00 am and 12:00 noon
Wear your cutest ladybug costume and show it off during the parade around the Eucalyptus Grove!
There will be a ladybug release at the end
of each parade. FREE activity

Ladybugs Love Flowers! • 10:00 am – 12:30 pm (or as long as supplies last)
Make a beautiful fresh flower bouquet to take home.
Presented by the San Dieguito Garden Club,
inside the Ecke Building. 2 Tickets

Activities in the Eucalyptus Grove • 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Worm Composting Demonstration
Learn about worm composting and get up close and personal with our Red Wigglers.
Presented by the Solana Center Encinitas.
FREE activity

Take a closer look!
Check out an aphid or ladybug larvae under the stereo microscope.
FREE activity

• Make a worm collage 1 Ticket
• Paint a wooden ladybug fridge magnet 3 Tickets
• Make a ladybug necklace 3 Tickets
• Decorate a large butterfly cutout 1 Ticket
• Stamp a picture with insect stamps FREE

Photos: John Bryant and Diana Goforth

Photos: Herb Knufkin • Lady Bug Day 2009

Fun Fact about Ladybugs

Lieutenant Ladybug leads the troops against the Aphid Army
Aphids are tiny insects that damage plants. Ladybug beetles are a great natural defense against aphids because one ladybug can eat 100-150 aphids in a day.

Are Ladybugs always red with black spots? No way. Some are black with red spots. Some have no spots and some are yellow. We even found blue ones at the San Diego Botanic Garden.

Do ladybugs always look like ladybugs?
Other ladybugs would always recognize them, but when they are eggs or larva stage they look very different from the adult stage we all know. The eggs look like tiny yellow bowling pins and the larva stage looks like a tiny black alligator. Don’t use pesticides to control aphids. You could be killing a ladybug, your garden’s best friend.

Do all Ladybugs Look Alike?
There are thousands of different kinds of ladybugs in the world and over 150 different kinds just in the United States. Check out the pictures of three different kinds of ladybugs found on just one vegetable plant in the Hamilton Children’s Garden.

Seven different kinds of lady bugs that were found
during the Lady Bug Day in 2011 

Above Photos: Susanne Brueckner
Banner Photo: Rachel Cobb