Build a ladybug house

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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”

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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

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Step #3 — Nail front to sides and back panel

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Step #4 — Nail bottom panel to ladybug house.

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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.

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Step #5 — Attach top using screws and hinge

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

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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…

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9 Responses to “Build a ladybug house”

  1. deborah d. lattimore Says:

    you are a great dad!!!


  2. The Cheap Vegetable Gardener Says:

    Well what can I do when I have a such great wife and kids.


  3. Naseer @ Green Thumb Geeks Says:

    Have you found this to work at attracting and keeping ladybugs? Do you need to add any food or anything to attract them or they just find it?


  4. The Cheap Vegetable Gardener Says:

    I have been meaning to write a post of this exact subject, but here are a few tips:

    Color your house light blue (apparently they are attracted to the color)

    Add a few hydrated rasins as a snack for your new vistors
    Add a sponge soaked with sugar water to the bottom of the house


  5. Lori Says:

    Did this really work? Wouldn’t this get full of those darn Earwigs?


  6. Wendy Says:

    Just curious how this is going. Have you attracted many?


  7. The Cheap Vegetable Gardener Says:

    Not too much for them to eat so think they are hanging out at my neighbors…curious how many come back for the winter…


  8. Jeff Says:

    How about now? any lady bugs?


  9. How to Get Rid of Ladybugs? Says:

    […] on building the ladybug houses on the Internet.Kid’s projectSome instructions are aimed toward children, as a type of art project, and some are just a generic style ladybug house. Both houses will work […]


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