Ladybugs are abundant in Saskatchewan this month as they prepare for hibernation, experts say. According to Georgiana Antochi-Crihan, the City of Saskatoon’s entomologist, ladybugs are currently experiencing a surge in population due to favorable conditions, particularly the availability of food sources such as aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs.
While Ashley Thompson, the manager of parks technical services for the City of Regina, noted a significant presence of aphids in Regina this year, Vesna Fa observed a similar abundance of aphids in North Battleford during the summer. Fa, the executive director of Midwest Food Resources, emphasized the importance of preserving ladybugs as beneficial insects in combating garden pests.
Candace Savage, chair of Wild About Saskatoon, praised the role of ladybugs in the environment and highlighted the diversity of ladybug species in the province, including both native and introduced varieties. Among these species, the seven-spotted lady beetle is the most common, recognizable by its seven spots.
As ladybugs prepare for hibernation in warm locations, such as the sides of buildings, they produce internal compounds to withstand the prairie winter temperatures. Antochi-Crihan explained that the insects have mechanisms to survive the cold and are expected to reemerge in large numbers in the spring.
