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Release the ladybugs into your garden at night so they'll bed down and stick around. If you let them out midday they'll just fly away.

The introduction of biological pest-controls is far more complicated than you are making it out to be. How are the ladybugs going to live after they've eaten the bugs you want them to get rid of? Have you planted the right plants for not just supporting the adult ladybugs, but for every stage of the lifecycle (many insects depend on different plants for different periods in their lives, and each one is vital).

Ordering ladybugs is one of the least offensive things you can do in terms of pest control, but it's still better to rely, first and foremost, on keeping healthy plants which will resist pests. You make sure plants are healthy by 1) choosing the best plant for the space, considering soil, moisture, climate and light requirements, 2) learning the plant's needs and providing moisture, shade, and so on accordingly, and 3) choosing the best plant for the space, considering- well, you get my point. Right plant in the right place, and don't coddle too much. And considering reading "Noah's Garden," on reintroducing native species. She flirts with ladybugs and preying mantises as well, but ultimately decides these interventions weren't worth it.

Pyewacket is right. Unless you're restocking a yard that was recently blanketed in pesticides, you probably have about as many ladybugs as your yard can support.

Ladybugs are recommended most often as a way to fight aphids. There are other things you can do to keep aphids in check.:

*Don't plant something inappropriate -- if your nasturtiums are always covered in aphids, there's not much you can do.

*Don't overfeed. Too much nitrogen can cause too much rapid growth, which is then soft and juicy and weak. That's prime habitat for aphids.

*Control ants: many species of ants run aphid farms. For a bush or a tree, cut back any branches that ants can use as a highway. Then use something like tanglefoot around the main trunk to keep ants off.

*Don't spray with pesticides. It's a losing battle. You'll kill aphids, and their predators. Then the aphids will come back long before the predators do.

*Of course, you can also use insecticidal soaps. But aphids don't even need that -- just use a hose to blast them off, or squish them with your finger.

There are other beneficial insects that you might benefit from, if they're not already in your garden. I'm glad I introduced delphastus beetles and mealybug destroyers to my yard. But ladybugs are pretty much ubiquitous.

The "source" link links to nothing.

or rather it connects to an ERROR page

I recall the summers of '94 and '95 when ladybugs were everywhere! I was in college in the midwest and moved back to the northeast after graduating. Ladybug loved was pushed to the breaking point. They were piled up in windows, light fixtures, constantly flying about and landing on heads.

The charm wore off real quick.

link fixed.

I'm not sure if the summer of infestations Lady J mentions are the ones I have in mind or not, but at some point the Department of Natural Resources attempted massive pest-control in Michigan by planting Asian Lady Beatles (just like ladybugs in appearance, perhaps a bit lighter). That was a summer to remember! Ladybugs on the ceiling, in clothes, in beds. Many people resorted to sucking them up with vacuum cleaners....

Once ladybugs eat their fill of aphids on your roses, they fly away, in search of more. Aphids can be controlled by either hand-squishing (fun, if icky) or soap spray.

And why buy mail order? Armstrongs, Anawalt, and most small, non chain nurseries sell ladybugs. Armstrong is a Ca. based chain, and yet AT never mentions them. Anawalt is a family owned business, and it too never gets the link love that far-flung retailers get. Don't you guys live here?

@Palmetto- Thank your for mentioning Anawalt and Armstrongs, two great garden centers definately worth a shout out.

They may not be hipster owned, have snazzy logos or tons of press, but these are two great resources that offer a comprehensive selction of flora and fauna and both are staffed with friendly and knowledgeable people.

www.anawaltlumber.com
www.armstronggarden.com

Oh, we had a similar infestation in Toronto in 2001: first HUGE swarms of aphids, seething little swarms of flying green ick stuck in your nose, your hair, your teeth, the folds of your clothes. This was followed in about 6 days by a massive deployment of ladybugs: inside, outside, EVERYWHERE.

The charm wears off right quick. Especially because they bite, under the right conditions.

I remember the Toronto aphid infestation. I never put it together with the lady bug infestation I had in my house until last years. It was wierd to suddenly see a lady bug crawling on the window pane in February.

Besides spraying soapy water, I was told, many years ago, to brew a tobacco "tea" and spray that. Anyone else hear of that solution? Does it work?