“We weren’t surprised by the results, but they’re a sign that there are many exotic species in people’s gardens all around Ohio,” she said.
All ladybugs, also known as ladybird beetles, help crops by feeding on pests like aphids. But exotic species also eat eggs and larvae of native species, driving down their numbers and potentially driving them out of the state.
“Exotic species aren’t necessarily bad because they do help with our crops, but a problem occurs if they are taking over native species,” Gardiner said.
Prior to this research project little was known about the state’s official insect, but most exotic species were intentionally brought to the United States from Asia to eat pests.
To help with what’s dubbed the “Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz,” Gardiner handed out 180 collection kits to volunteers around Ohio, including Gov. Ted Strickland’s wife, Frances.
The kits include a sticky sheet placed in food or flower gardens and an identification card with 10 native and four exotic species of ladybugs.
Gardiner and her assistants started examining ladybugs from the first two rounds of collection that ended in late June.
Some of those exotic species researchers are finding include the 14-spotted ladybug that frequently infests homes during the fall season.
The next round of kits is scheduled for August, but Gardiner said she hopes she can continue this project each year to see how native species are doing across time. To learn how to identify ladybugs in your own backyard visit www.ladybeetles.osu.edu.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9391 or jneidhard@Dayton
DailyNews.com.
About the Author