The Cheap Vegetable Gardener

Build a ladybug house

14.6 years ago aphids, cheap, kids, ladybugs

With a piece of cedar fence board and a few nails you can make your own ladybug house to give your army of aphid eaters I nice comfortable place to take shelter between battles

This project started with my youngest daughter (5 years old) has been asking every weekend, “Can we build something with wood?”  Finally I came up with this project which we had a great time building.

Materials

• 1 — Cedar fence board
• about 12 finishing nails
• small hinge
• 1/2-3/4 drill bit
• paint for decorating (optional)

Build instructions

 

Step #1 – Cut the boards:  Given the cedar board should be 5-1/2 inches so the cuts should be pretty straightforward.  Cut the following pieces:

• Front Panel — 5.5” by 5”
• Back Panel — 5.5” by 5”
• Bottom Panel — 5.5” by 5”
• Top Panel — 5.5” by 4”
• 2 X Side Panel — 5.5” by 2.5”
• Room Separator — 5.5” by 1”

I used a circular saw for my cuts…yes I really should invest in a chop saw or table saw so hopefully your cuts will be a little straighter but I am sure the ladybugs will not mind.

Step #2 — Nail two sides to back panel

Step #3 — Nail front to sides and back panel

Step #4 — Nail bottom panel to ladybug house.

Step #5 — Drop room separator inside house.

Ladybugs are social and like to group together but sometimes thy like to live in smaller groups, this divider will give an additional area for the ladybugs to hang out.

Step #5 — Attach top using screws and hinge

Step #6 — Drill 3-4 holes into front and sides and decorate (optional)

Step #7 — Hang close to your garden

Now of course the decoration part is optional unless you are a 5 year old then it is required.  Here she is carefully deciding what to paint with her marker next…

Tags: aphids, little green bugs