Ladybugs, the green (or red) pesticide


Ladybugs are, and have for many years been favorite insects of children. They've had quite a few names in the past such as the lady-cow, may-bug, golden-knop, golden-bugs, Bishop-Barnaby, Barnabee, Burnabee, and the Bishop-that-burneth. Point being, they are pretty well known.


What many of us don't know though, is their benefit to farms and gardens.


Ladybugs feed on aphids, which are pests in gardens, and agricultural fields. ladybugs are numerous where aphids are plentiful and, they need to eat as many as 50 aphids per day as an adult. Some ladybug species may consume several hundred aphids per day and each larva eats 200 to 300 aphids as it grows. 
While conventional farms use pesticides that can be harmful to the environment, Organic farms cut down on pesticides by employing thousands of these pest controlling creatures. Several types of farming benefit from ladybug pest control, ranging from fruits, to trees, to our favorite... cotton.


By using organically farmed cotton, Loomstate can make all of your favorite pieces with minimal effect on the environment. In fact, in spring 2008 we used 154 acres of organic cotton, releasing 0lbs of chemicals. compare with 154 acres of conventional cotton farming, and you get a whopping 25,426lbs of chemicals being released. 


You be the judge...

1 comment:

John's Arts & Crafts said...

Great Blog & Photo! New blog on the Hx. of the Ladybug: http://historyoftheladybug.blogspot.com/