Lady beetles, commonly called ladybugs, usually aggregate in groups over the winter. Normally they congregate in leaf litter, tree cavities, house vents, attics, garages, sheds, and firewood piles. However, for at least three years Asian spotted lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis) have been overwintering in UC Master Gardener Ted Hawkins's outdoors pickup truck! They apparently crawl into a crack of a truck door, assembling in the compartment behind the panel. They gather in both the driver and passenger doors, going back and forth between the two doors. However, they seem to spend more time in the passenger door, presumably because it is used less and thus are disturbed less.

Overwintering

Most lady beetles eat insects (aphids are a common food source), which generally disappear during the cold winter months. Overwintering lady beetles go into diapause where their metabolism slows down, reducing the need for food and water. Diapause also enables them to utilize supercooling where the water in their bodies can cool down below the freezing point of 32°F/0°C without forming ice crystals, which would cause their bodies to freeze.

Once a ladybug has found an ideal location to spend the winter, it will release species-specific pheromones to call other ladybugs to the area. By congregating together with hundreds of other ladybugs they gain some protection from the cold and reduce opportunities for potential predators to consume them while they are in a dormant state.

Unlike some troublesome pests that can occupy areas in and around your home, such as spiders, moths or ants, overwintering ladybugs are mostly a charming nuisance.

Ending Diapause

Lady beetles will come out of diapause when the weather begins to warm up in the spring around 55°F/13°C. The insects that they feed upon return during this time as well.

The lady beetles in Ted's truck have been arriving sometime in late autumn as the weather cools down and remain there until spring when the temperatures warm up. Ted has enjoyed having the lady beetles take residence in his truck during these past few years and hopes they will be back this fall. Hopefully, as they depart his pickup doors this spring, they will eat any aphids that may be in his garden before moving on, as a “thank you” for giving them winter shelter.

Resources

• Multicolored Lady Beetle - https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/multicolored-asian-lady-beetle/
• Convergent Lady Beetle – https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/convergent-lady-beetle/
  

  Although these ladybugs look different, all of them are the same species.

 

The survey form for our class next week mentioned a free compost bin. We apologize for any confusion. The Garden Tool Maintenance class does not include a compost bin.

The $10 charge covers the cost the tool workshop materials and helps support our program.

If receiving a compost bin was part of the reason you signed up for the workshop and you've decided not to attend, please let me know and we can refund your credit card.

Please contact Anne at (209) 525-6800 or aschellman@ucanr.edu

Thanks,

Anne Schellman
UC Master Gardener Coordinator

There's still time to sign up for our Garden Tool Maintenance Class happening Saturday, January 13 at 9:00 a.m.

UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Tim Long and Ted Hawkins have a fun and informative experience planned for you! This class involves:

• Presentation on how to clean and maintain your tools, materials to take home included.
• How to prevent the spread of plant diseases in your garden by sanitizing tools.
• Hands-on demonstrations on how to sharpen and clean tools.

Where: Agricultural Center, Harvest Hall rooms AB&C
Address: 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358.
When: Saturday, January 13, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $10
Instructors: Tim Long & Ted Hawkins, UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners
Payment Link: https://ucanr.edu/tools/2023
Questions? (209) 525-6862

Please let us know if you plan to attend, as we are preparing handouts for the number of people signed up. If the credit card survey doesn't work for you, just write (check or cash) after your name and then hit "submit" and you can bring a check with you for $10 made out to UC Regents.

Our last newsletter may have prompted you to have more questions about citrus. The good news is, the topic for January Classes at Stanislaus County Libraries is (you guessed it) Growing Citrus Trees! We hope to see you at one of these free classes.

You can also see a list of our classes on our calendar by visiting our website at https://ucanr.edu/sites/stancountymg/Calendar/

p.s. February's topic is Spring Vegetable Gardening, stay tuned for more information!