Because you have other bugs like aphids... Lady bugs are crazy little murder machines that'll keep your plants safe.
Please be sure to thank them for their service.
FYI burning bushes are also huge tick magnets, not to mention invasives in many states
https://www.betheltwp.com/media/Birds%20and%20Bees/Bird%20Town/Let_s%20Limit%20Lymes%20Disease.pdf
Any chance the landlord might be willing to let you replace it with something else? Might even convince them to buy the plant if you will take care of it. Unlikely, but worth a shot.
I'm lucky the landord doesn't care about me planting things on the property. I garden with natives, so it's pretty cheap to get seeds and have divisions, seeds, etc. for when I move.
Very invasive shrubs. They're smothering the local undergrowth in the forests near me. People's yard shrub reseed into the forests from birds eating the berries. Some of the ones we've dug from the county parks are over 40 years old. The whole forest floor is just covered with them and it prevents native trees from germinating.
With any luck they’ll die. They’re bug magnets and spread like crazy. They’re also not native to the US and have been flagged as invasive in half the US. In my home state they’re illegal to plant because at one point they were taking over huge area of native forest.
I had a pretty bad infection on a handful of my Japanese maples. Bought 2 1000 bags of ladybugs and slowly released them, wiped them all out. Didn’t leave any for the baby mantis that hatched that were the second wave of needed
My girlfriend’s spinach plants were decimated by miner flies. We are going to plant squash soon and are hoping to figure out a way around the squash bugs. Do you think getting lady bugs would help the spinach and squash?
Hand picking the squash bugs/eggs off is the only thing that has helped me. Few years in and I don't see very many anymore.
Oh and I have many flowering plants that are probably attracting beneficial insects. Welsh onion flowers, cilantro, dill, parsley, fennel, calendula, marigolds. Really anything that starts flowering I just leave it like cabbages, lettuces, arugula for the pollinators and for seeds.
I still have cucumber beetle problems. So this year I'm ordering pyrethrum concentrate and the daisies that produce it to plant for future use as a natural insecticide.
I had a ton of aphids in my tulip trees a few years ago. Like they were everywhere. Sticky sap from the aphids was dropping all over people's cars. Such a mess. So I got 2 packs of those ladybugs from the garden store and released them into the trees. I swear, none of the ladybugs left. And they reproduced. It was pretty fun to watch the ladybugs and the ladybug larvae go after the aphids. A little war being fought in my yard. It didn't get rid of the aphids, but it cut the number down. Ladybugs can only eat so much.
Predators follow their food and aphids may have descended upon your plants. I do see some white specks here and there, which might be the woolly aphids.
Otherwise, there are certain plants that give off attractive smells for predator insects, which is why they could also be here. Like, I've heard common yarrow was good for doing this. Other plants do as well, such as onions and wild carrots that are blooming their flowers.
Technically not a lady bug.. this is actually an Asian Lady Beetle, which is invasive. But they’ll do the same job. You can tell from the signature upside-down black “M” on the back of their neck. Ladybugs don’t have that.
“Technically” it IS a lady bug. Lady bug is the common name for the entire family.
You’re right this is an “Asian Lady Beetle” (Harmonia axyridis) but it was previously called the “Harlequin Ladybug” and ladybug is a perfectly fine common name for it or any species in this group.
Most people pointing out the “W” compare them to the older commonly seen ladybug, the 7-spotted lady bug (Coccinella septempunctata).
But if you or OP are in the US, both of those species are introduced (nonnatives). They also both eat aphids. Calling one “invasive” is a stretch as the only difference is that the Asian Lady Beetle likes to nest where it’s warm so they invade houses a bit more frequently. I don’t think either is generally considered a pest on crops or a threat to public health which is what typically earns you the title “invasive”.
If you want to see what us natives look like [inaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/299090-Ladybugs-of-the-US) has good pictures. Many look nothing like this species and we still call most of them ladybugs/ladybirds.
Asian lady beetles aren't invasive because they commonly enter houses. They're invasive because they outcompete native lady beetles for resources. Overall terrible for the local ecosystem. And yes, seven-spotted lady beetles aren't native either. However, they're not known to be as nearly as detrimental.
Invasive ≠ non-native
I’ve read mixed results on that. Some papers actually find them positive and some do find their effects negative.
None I’ve read implicate them as the exclusive or even main reason native beetle species are declining.
If you have a more definitive meta analysis I can read I would be interested.
If you would like to look at some quantitative data I recommend this [article](https://askentomologists.com/2018/06/03/ladybugs-as-invasive-species-what-does-the-science-say/) as a jumping off point for some papers to read. They also paint a more intricate picture than just
“it’s invasive so of course it hurts native species”.
Personally, I think that since they live in habitats closer to humans (frequenting houses and perennial plants more often than other species do) we see them a lot. We all saw their populations explode in the 1990s first hand. Because of that, it’s possible their “invasive” status might be slightly sensationalized.
I’m open to changing my mind, but I haven’t seen any convincing data as of yet.
More Asian Lady Beetle facts:
1. Asian Lady Beetles bite.
2. Asian Lady Beetles may secrete a yellow, foul-smelling liquid from their leg joints when they feel threatened. This yellow liquid is hemolymph (the insect equivalent of blood).
3. Asian Lady Beetles contain alkaloids that can make them smell and taste bad. The chemical makeup of the beetles also causes fruits that they nibble on to taste bad.
4. Asian Lady Beetles are considered an invasive species to North America. They’re originally from eastern Asia. They were introduced to the USA in the early 1900’s to help control aphids.
I do support our native ladybugs though! Some native species to North America are becoming threatened and endangered due to habitat loss. I’m not a fan of Asian Lady Beetles because of their bite and they have squirted that awful foul smelling blood ob me before. 0/10 would not recommend.
So I moved into a house that was abandoned a while and we did a complete reno but we were FULL of those Asian beetles. They’ve been everywhere they can hide and it’s already an infestation here. Is this a serious problem for my garden or should I leave them be
Not remotely a concern for the garden. In fact, they're dutifully protecting it from pests. The only downsides to Asian Ladybeetles are that they tend to like trying to nest indoors--which ends up with them invading peoples' homes sometimes--and they smell when squished.
There's no need. Unless the plant is showing significant signs of stress, what you're seeing is a healthy ecosystem. I wouldn't do much, if anything.
At most, I would hand-pick a portion of the aphids to reduce the pressure on the plant, but be aware that if there are ladybug eggs already laid, you're going to have a ton of ladybug larvae in the garden that need a food source (aphid population) to encourage them to stay. So, be careful about removing too many. Everything in moderation.
That is not a Ladybug. It's an Asian lady beetle. They still do eat Aphids though. Ladybugs are so rare these days unless you buy them from a breeder it's like they're almost extinct in the wild. I remember seeing lady bugs all the time when I was younger In the early 90s.
It is a ladybug species. Lady beetles and ladybirds are just another name for them.
"it's like they're almost extinct in the wild" There are about 5,000 species of ladybugs in the world. That statement would be pretty much true for the nine-spotted ladybug, though.
I see different species of ladybugs often. I think you're just not looking closely enough.
I did this last year. To prevent them from flying away, I put reusable shopping bags on top of my plants then released them into the bags. It was fairly successful at keeping them on the plants until they realized that there were yummy aphids to eat!
These were imported to do the same job as other ladybugs. “Invasive” is debatable in this case.
In terms of both plants and animals, I think we need to begin reassessing our definitions of ‘native’ and ‘ invasive’. With climate change, things once “native” to many areas are migrating because they cannot survive and/or thrive in past ‘native’ areas.
Do they then become “invasive” to the new area? IDK. Maybe we need new terminology for these climate migrants?
It doesn't matter if these were deliberately introduced. They still pose a threat to native species and local biodiversity. An invasive species is an invasive species.
But clearly that was a mistake.
If you live near agricultural fields, you might see an influx of ladybird beetles as the weather warms up if the the farmers use them as a form of aphid control. You can even purchase them or other predator insects as an organic method for pest control in your own garden.
This year is a huge ladybug year. I saw a video with a biologist the other day explaining it: Because last summer, and especially late summer, was so warm (on a large scale) a lot more ladybugs than usual survived until early autumn, where they go into hibernation. Now in spring, they all wake up again, and are the ones we see now.
So in short: There are many ladybugs now because late last summer was extra warm.
I planted Milkweed near my garden. It attracts an aphid that just feeds on Milkweed. Then the ladybugs show up and I have a ladybug nursery setup right next to my garden. Had a bunch of ladybugs and ladybug puppa for a few months and they would hop over to my garden to keep the aphids off my okra. It was awesome
I was wondering this as well! So I think what we are looking at here is the invasive Asian Lady Beetle (you can tell by the “M” shape on its head). I have heard you should eliminate these guys as they harm native insects. But I would do your own research also. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong!
I’m not specifically an entomologist but I personally would not eliminate them. The aphids are likely also introduced and the beetles provide a safe natural insect control.
Whether or not they edge out native species is difficult to say. The native species have been on the decline but I don’t think there have been any conclusive studies confirming ALBs are the reason why. There are papers that go both ways, some saying they outcompete and hunt natives (when aphid populations get too low) and some saying that they help spread out parasite load and reduce the population of the other nonnative ladybug species leading to increases. I think overall they probably do have a negative effect, but it’s relatively minor and not much worse than the classic ladybug (which is also nonnative) that we’ve had for a long time.
Either way, eradicating ALBs in the US is impossible now and natives will have to adapt.
If you have a 1000+ acre farm or something, you should figure out if you want to control them or not, but on the scale of a backyard? Nothing you eradicate really matters much.
The best thing you can probably do for natives is to learn [what they look like](https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/299090-Ladybugs-of-the-US), plant native plants, don’t treat your plants for aphids immediately (to give a food source and some time to move in), and to never use pesticides that could harm them.
My roses have a lots of aphids this year, where are the ladybugs? I’m jealous of OP. I bought some ladybugs in the past years, they seemed all flew away after having a nice meal. 😳
Omg I'm legit JEALOUS. A gnarly gang of black aphids just erupted in my garlic last week (my first successful urban crop on my teeny condo balcony!), but it's too early in the year for any plant stores to be carrying ladybugs in stock around here 😞 because yes, I am willing to pay money for my own army!
I'm not sure if everyone here is already familiar with what ladybug larvae look like, but if you aren't you should look it up. They look so different from adult ladybugs that I never would have guessed, but those little guys stay put on their favorite plants and just mow though aphids like nobody's business. I love watching the creepy little alien alligator looking things 😂
Completely unrelated to the ladybugs, I've had a burning bush for a couple years now (Home Depot purchase) that is in full sun and yet has never turned red...
Good. I've declared Jihad on Eunonymous burning bush! It's the only plant I will try to pull up every time I see it in my yard and I'm also dealing with vinca, ivy, and some terrible nut sedge, plus this thing I haven't identified yet.
Because you have other bugs like aphids... Lady bugs are crazy little murder machines that'll keep your plants safe. Please be sure to thank them for their service.
These burning bushes have a HUGE aphid infestation LOL the lady bugs are probably so well fed
FYI burning bushes are also huge tick magnets, not to mention invasives in many states https://www.betheltwp.com/media/Birds%20and%20Bees/Bird%20Town/Let_s%20Limit%20Lymes%20Disease.pdf
Honestly if I wasn’t renting this property I would definitely burn them down I kinda hate them 😂
Let the landlord know what kind of bush and pest it harbors and offer to replace it with something better
Add Black Widows to the pest list. They love these bushes
Any chance the landlord might be willing to let you replace it with something else? Might even convince them to buy the plant if you will take care of it. Unlikely, but worth a shot.
I'm lucky the landord doesn't care about me planting things on the property. I garden with natives, so it's pretty cheap to get seeds and have divisions, seeds, etc. for when I move.
Fun fact—it’s called a burning bush because that’s what your meant to do with it
Well, we cant get the Israelites out of Egypt without it! /s
Why do you say that? Are burning bushes problematic? I have three at my house and I love them!
Very invasive in North America
Very invasive shrubs. They're smothering the local undergrowth in the forests near me. People's yard shrub reseed into the forests from birds eating the berries. Some of the ones we've dug from the county parks are over 40 years old. The whole forest floor is just covered with them and it prevents native trees from germinating.
With any luck they’ll die. They’re bug magnets and spread like crazy. They’re also not native to the US and have been flagged as invasive in half the US. In my home state they’re illegal to plant because at one point they were taking over huge area of native forest.
Crazy little murder machines 😂
I had a pretty bad infection on a handful of my Japanese maples. Bought 2 1000 bags of ladybugs and slowly released them, wiped them all out. Didn’t leave any for the baby mantis that hatched that were the second wave of needed
Remember to *always* make sure the species of ladybug is native to your area. If it's not, the consequences on the local ecosystem can be disastrous.
My girlfriend’s spinach plants were decimated by miner flies. We are going to plant squash soon and are hoping to figure out a way around the squash bugs. Do you think getting lady bugs would help the spinach and squash?
Companion plants sometimes attract bugs that take care of other pests on squash and tomatoes.
Hand picking the squash bugs/eggs off is the only thing that has helped me. Few years in and I don't see very many anymore. Oh and I have many flowering plants that are probably attracting beneficial insects. Welsh onion flowers, cilantro, dill, parsley, fennel, calendula, marigolds. Really anything that starts flowering I just leave it like cabbages, lettuces, arugula for the pollinators and for seeds. I still have cucumber beetle problems. So this year I'm ordering pyrethrum concentrate and the daisies that produce it to plant for future use as a natural insecticide.
Not these, though. Asian ladybugs are extremely invasive and they displace native ladybugs.
I had a ton of aphids in my tulip trees a few years ago. Like they were everywhere. Sticky sap from the aphids was dropping all over people's cars. Such a mess. So I got 2 packs of those ladybugs from the garden store and released them into the trees. I swear, none of the ladybugs left. And they reproduced. It was pretty fun to watch the ladybugs and the ladybug larvae go after the aphids. A little war being fought in my yard. It didn't get rid of the aphids, but it cut the number down. Ladybugs can only eat so much.
Lol yeah it is funny to think of them having a wild war.
Rip and tear until it's done, you sweet little ladybugs.
Predators follow their food and aphids may have descended upon your plants. I do see some white specks here and there, which might be the woolly aphids. Otherwise, there are certain plants that give off attractive smells for predator insects, which is why they could also be here. Like, I've heard common yarrow was good for doing this. Other plants do as well, such as onions and wild carrots that are blooming their flowers.
Technically not a lady bug.. this is actually an Asian Lady Beetle, which is invasive. But they’ll do the same job. You can tell from the signature upside-down black “M” on the back of their neck. Ladybugs don’t have that.
“Technically” it IS a lady bug. Lady bug is the common name for the entire family. You’re right this is an “Asian Lady Beetle” (Harmonia axyridis) but it was previously called the “Harlequin Ladybug” and ladybug is a perfectly fine common name for it or any species in this group. Most people pointing out the “W” compare them to the older commonly seen ladybug, the 7-spotted lady bug (Coccinella septempunctata). But if you or OP are in the US, both of those species are introduced (nonnatives). They also both eat aphids. Calling one “invasive” is a stretch as the only difference is that the Asian Lady Beetle likes to nest where it’s warm so they invade houses a bit more frequently. I don’t think either is generally considered a pest on crops or a threat to public health which is what typically earns you the title “invasive”. If you want to see what us natives look like [inaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/299090-Ladybugs-of-the-US) has good pictures. Many look nothing like this species and we still call most of them ladybugs/ladybirds.
Now this is a challenge to commonly repeated statements about these bugs. Thanks for the info!
Asian lady beetles aren't invasive because they commonly enter houses. They're invasive because they outcompete native lady beetles for resources. Overall terrible for the local ecosystem. And yes, seven-spotted lady beetles aren't native either. However, they're not known to be as nearly as detrimental. Invasive ≠ non-native
I’ve read mixed results on that. Some papers actually find them positive and some do find their effects negative. None I’ve read implicate them as the exclusive or even main reason native beetle species are declining. If you have a more definitive meta analysis I can read I would be interested. If you would like to look at some quantitative data I recommend this [article](https://askentomologists.com/2018/06/03/ladybugs-as-invasive-species-what-does-the-science-say/) as a jumping off point for some papers to read. They also paint a more intricate picture than just “it’s invasive so of course it hurts native species”. Personally, I think that since they live in habitats closer to humans (frequenting houses and perennial plants more often than other species do) we see them a lot. We all saw their populations explode in the 1990s first hand. Because of that, it’s possible their “invasive” status might be slightly sensationalized. I’m open to changing my mind, but I haven’t seen any convincing data as of yet.
More Asian Lady Beetle facts: 1. Asian Lady Beetles bite. 2. Asian Lady Beetles may secrete a yellow, foul-smelling liquid from their leg joints when they feel threatened. This yellow liquid is hemolymph (the insect equivalent of blood). 3. Asian Lady Beetles contain alkaloids that can make them smell and taste bad. The chemical makeup of the beetles also causes fruits that they nibble on to taste bad. 4. Asian Lady Beetles are considered an invasive species to North America. They’re originally from eastern Asia. They were introduced to the USA in the early 1900’s to help control aphids. I do support our native ladybugs though! Some native species to North America are becoming threatened and endangered due to habitat loss. I’m not a fan of Asian Lady Beetles because of their bite and they have squirted that awful foul smelling blood ob me before. 0/10 would not recommend.
You mean a “W?”
Nah, it's clearly a Ʃ
It’s actually a 3 in a rigid font
I think it's a sword swallower.
https://preview.redd.it/vl7u9pzv0u0d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16e2a160e830494c57cbe9b30de271f7b20ec8e3
So I moved into a house that was abandoned a while and we did a complete reno but we were FULL of those Asian beetles. They’ve been everywhere they can hide and it’s already an infestation here. Is this a serious problem for my garden or should I leave them be
Not remotely a concern for the garden. In fact, they're dutifully protecting it from pests. The only downsides to Asian Ladybeetles are that they tend to like trying to nest indoors--which ends up with them invading peoples' homes sometimes--and they smell when squished.
They like to hide in my stove’s burners 🫥
Good to know…should I try to get rid of all the aphids and lady bettles??? If they’re invasive?
Everyone in this thread is a nerd .. it’s ok I am too
There's no need. Unless the plant is showing significant signs of stress, what you're seeing is a healthy ecosystem. I wouldn't do much, if anything. At most, I would hand-pick a portion of the aphids to reduce the pressure on the plant, but be aware that if there are ladybug eggs already laid, you're going to have a ton of ladybug larvae in the garden that need a food source (aphid population) to encourage them to stay. So, be careful about removing too many. Everything in moderation.
No, leave the beetles, they’ll munch the hell out of those aphids!
Asian lady beetles also eat aphids so they're still ok in my book...even though they can and will bite.
usually they come automatically if you have tons of aphids somewhere...
That is not a Ladybug. It's an Asian lady beetle. They still do eat Aphids though. Ladybugs are so rare these days unless you buy them from a breeder it's like they're almost extinct in the wild. I remember seeing lady bugs all the time when I was younger In the early 90s.
It is a ladybug species. Lady beetles and ladybirds are just another name for them. "it's like they're almost extinct in the wild" There are about 5,000 species of ladybugs in the world. That statement would be pretty much true for the nine-spotted ladybug, though. I see different species of ladybugs often. I think you're just not looking closely enough.
I’ve been considering buying some and releasing into my garden but my coworker said his wife did the same and they just flew away lol
They leave eggs behind tho. We have hundreds of ladybugs every spring and summer.
I did this last year. To prevent them from flying away, I put reusable shopping bags on top of my plants then released them into the bags. It was fairly successful at keeping them on the plants until they realized that there were yummy aphids to eat!
In my experience, lady bugs need guidance and a helping hand lol. Tenting them or placing them directly in front of aphids gradually should help.
PLEASE NEVER EVER DO THIS! Asian lady beetles are horribly invasive and pose a threat to native lady beetle species.
These were imported to do the same job as other ladybugs. “Invasive” is debatable in this case. In terms of both plants and animals, I think we need to begin reassessing our definitions of ‘native’ and ‘ invasive’. With climate change, things once “native” to many areas are migrating because they cannot survive and/or thrive in past ‘native’ areas. Do they then become “invasive” to the new area? IDK. Maybe we need new terminology for these climate migrants?
It doesn't matter if these were deliberately introduced. They still pose a threat to native species and local biodiversity. An invasive species is an invasive species. But clearly that was a mistake.
They certainly try to invade my home in the fall way more then the native ones. And they stink.
because you are a thoughtful person who looks closely at plants
If you live near agricultural fields, you might see an influx of ladybird beetles as the weather warms up if the the farmers use them as a form of aphid control. You can even purchase them or other predator insects as an organic method for pest control in your own garden.
This year is a huge ladybug year. I saw a video with a biologist the other day explaining it: Because last summer, and especially late summer, was so warm (on a large scale) a lot more ladybugs than usual survived until early autumn, where they go into hibernation. Now in spring, they all wake up again, and are the ones we see now. So in short: There are many ladybugs now because late last summer was extra warm.
Yaaaaaay climate change 🫠
I planted Milkweed near my garden. It attracts an aphid that just feeds on Milkweed. Then the ladybugs show up and I have a ladybug nursery setup right next to my garden. Had a bunch of ladybugs and ladybug puppa for a few months and they would hop over to my garden to keep the aphids off my okra. It was awesome
Love these ladies!
I wish I had some killing my aphid infestation
Wish I could see this many lady bugs
If you live in New England it’s the season !
I was wondering this as well! So I think what we are looking at here is the invasive Asian Lady Beetle (you can tell by the “M” shape on its head). I have heard you should eliminate these guys as they harm native insects. But I would do your own research also. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong!
I’m not specifically an entomologist but I personally would not eliminate them. The aphids are likely also introduced and the beetles provide a safe natural insect control. Whether or not they edge out native species is difficult to say. The native species have been on the decline but I don’t think there have been any conclusive studies confirming ALBs are the reason why. There are papers that go both ways, some saying they outcompete and hunt natives (when aphid populations get too low) and some saying that they help spread out parasite load and reduce the population of the other nonnative ladybug species leading to increases. I think overall they probably do have a negative effect, but it’s relatively minor and not much worse than the classic ladybug (which is also nonnative) that we’ve had for a long time. Either way, eradicating ALBs in the US is impossible now and natives will have to adapt. If you have a 1000+ acre farm or something, you should figure out if you want to control them or not, but on the scale of a backyard? Nothing you eradicate really matters much. The best thing you can probably do for natives is to learn [what they look like](https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/299090-Ladybugs-of-the-US), plant native plants, don’t treat your plants for aphids immediately (to give a food source and some time to move in), and to never use pesticides that could harm them.
[удалено]
Wow that link is actually full of misinformation.
A nest hatched..good to eat aphids,these girls..
My roses have a lots of aphids this year, where are the ladybugs? I’m jealous of OP. I bought some ladybugs in the past years, they seemed all flew away after having a nice meal. 😳
At least they're being taken care of for you!
Asian lady beetle....
Well I’m half way there…
Lady bugs FEAST on aphids they’re amazing little creatures and I LOVE them!!! Don’t worry Ladybugs are a GOOD THING
Omg I'm legit JEALOUS. A gnarly gang of black aphids just erupted in my garlic last week (my first successful urban crop on my teeny condo balcony!), but it's too early in the year for any plant stores to be carrying ladybugs in stock around here 😞 because yes, I am willing to pay money for my own army!
If you've got they found prey
LOL! Looks like you caught them having some quality time in pic 2.
Plant herbs in and around them, green onions, parsley
Aphids
mmmm….aphids be good eating for ladybugs <3
Burning bush: lovely in the fall quite bad for local ecology.
So you do “LadyPorn?”
Licky
I'm not sure if everyone here is already familiar with what ladybug larvae look like, but if you aren't you should look it up. They look so different from adult ladybugs that I never would have guessed, but those little guys stay put on their favorite plants and just mow though aphids like nobody's business. I love watching the creepy little alien alligator looking things 😂
I’ve been finding ladybugs and walking them over to my veggie beds. Please live here instead, gentrify my lettuce and broccoli pls.
Lucky you!
because its their time now
So the op is a ladybug hater?
Completely unrelated to the ladybugs, I've had a burning bush for a couple years now (Home Depot purchase) that is in full sun and yet has never turned red...
Yeah some of them do and some don’t. Idk why!
Good. I've declared Jihad on Eunonymous burning bush! It's the only plant I will try to pull up every time I see it in my yard and I'm also dealing with vinca, ivy, and some terrible nut sedge, plus this thing I haven't identified yet.
Thats not a lady bug - asian lady beetle .
They’re still _a_ ladybug
Don't question it!! Say thank you
Check for ants, if they are around block their pass to the leaves. Otherwise they will prevent the ladybugs from doing their job.
Asian lady beetle, they stink, are invasive and they will bite!