Why one man is dispatching 50,000 ladybirds to households across Ireland every week

Demand for natural pest control is soaring as gardeners embrace native ladybirds to protect plants without chemical pesticides

Thomas Quearney from Mr Middleton garden shop releasing ladybirds in his garden in Glasnevin, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney

A box of live ladybirds might not be the first purchase that springs to mind while in the midst of a frenzied online shopping spree.

And yet, Thomas Quearney from Mr Middleton Garden Shop in Dublin is dispatching an average of 50,000 to households across Ireland every week.

Ordering a “loveliness of ladybirds” has become par for the course for gardeners around the world seeking to eliminate pests, following the removal of a number of harmful pesticides from the market.

While many regard this as a new trend, the commercialisation of ladybirds dates back a lot further, most notably to the citrus crisis in 1888. It formed part of desperate measures to undermine threats to California’s citrus industry resulting from an invasive pest known as the cottony cushion scale. 

Ladybirds are known for tackling common garden plant pests, eliminating the need for chemicals. They are often the favoured choice of organic gardeners.

Mr Quearney, the shop's managing director,  is one of the only people in Ireland currently offering the service. Despite being forced to recently close his bricks-and-mortar store on Mary Street after 40 years, he said business online was booming.

'Over the course of the cycle between being a larva and an adult, a single ladybird could eat 80,000 aphids, which is a phenomenal amount.' 

Ladybird larvae, which occur during the active, juvenile stage of a ladybird's life cycle, are proving extremely popular. He described the insects, which are lab-grown, as like miniscule six-legged alligators that hatch from eggs.

A pack of 100 Adalia bipunctata (ladybird) larvae typically costs €40.

Mr Quearney explained it was important to catch the ladybird early in its life cycle since this is when it consumes the most pests.

“The larvae are more ferocious eaters than the adults,” he told the Irish Examiner. 

“That’s not to say the adults don’t eat much but the larvae are even better eaters. Over the course of the cycle between being a larva and an adult, a single ladybird could eat 80,000 aphids, which is a phenomenal amount. 

"Our client base is predominantly home gardeners. They tend to be committed gardeners who spend a lot of time in their gardens.” 

He listed the benefits of ladybirds as a natural pest repellent.

The benefit of not spraying is that the garden is alive with insects. It's alive with good insects and bad insects, predominantly good ones, because the good ones keep the bad ones in check. 

"It’s really a matter of introducing the ladybirds and also about growing plants that the beneficial insects can feed on. A lot of the chemicals that people were using before are no longer available because they’ve been banned on account of not being good for us and not being good for nature. People need to find ways of working with nature.” 

He said the majority of his clients are 40 or older.

“Our customer profile tends to be older. We get a lot of grandparents buying the ladybirds for their grandchildren just for the sheer novelty of it and to see nature out in the garden.” 

"Live pest control product is seasonal, and delivery can take up to 21 days depending on the stage of the insect’s life cycle.

'You’ll see them in the container when you get them, but you won't be able to see them growing. What you will notice is that over time, the population of ladybirds in your garden will increase.'

“You’ll see them in the container when you get them, but you won't be able to see them growing. What you will notice is that over time, the population of ladybirds in your garden will increase. The ladybird we use is a native species. It’s a two-spotted ladybird that is native to Ireland, so all the biological controls are approved by the Department of Agriculture for use in horticulture.” 

He admits Brexit negatively impacted this area of the business.

“Prior to Brexit, we had a nematode [often called a roundworm or eelworms] that ate slugs which we were quite famous for. However, it’s no longer possible to bring these into Ireland due to the length of time it takes to get them through customs. These things also have to be kept in the fridge, so a four-day customs delay destroys the quality of them, hence why we can no longer do it.” 

He acknowledged the deep affection people have for ladybirds.

“It’s funny how people cherish ladybirds while disregarding the fact they are insects. Meanwhile, spiders get a bad rap even though they are great. They are also natural pest controllers.”