How to Keep Ladybugs as Pets

Ladybugs make great temporary pets because they don't eat your fabrics, paper, plants, or any of your other household items. They are easy to catch and can be found in places where there is a high population of insect pests, such as in gardens. Most of the time, you wont even have to go out and catch one to keep as a temporary pet because they have no problem with hanging out on people's shoulders.

Things You'll Need

  • Terrarium
  • Moist paper towels
  • Raisins or other sweet, non-acidic fruits
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a home for the ladybug in a terrarium. A terrarium is a miniature landscape inside a container that can house small creatures, including ladybugs. Keep their home moist and place damp paper towels inside so that they can drink from it.

    • 2

      Lady bugs prefer to eat aphids, insect scales and plant mites. However, while keeping the ladybug as a pet, you may feed it raisins or other sweet, non-acidic fruits.

    • 3

      If your pet ladybug looks dead, wait a while before you send it to its grave. Ladybugs will sometimes play dead by laying on their back with their feet sticking up in the air. They'll also release a little bit of yellow blood. This is simply a self-defense technique that keeps predators from eating them. When they no longer feel threatened, they'll get up and return to their normal behavior.

    • 4

      When you are ready to release the ladybug, do it during the springtime. That way the ladybug will be able to spend the warmer seasons outside and it will have time to find a place to hibernate for the colder seasons.