The city of Caen, in Normandy, will soon be producing half a million
ladybirds a year in an attempt to keep its parks and gardens free of greenfly.
The town鈥檚 parks department began to breed ladybirds 12 years ago for
use in public parks. Now, with growing demand from local residents for ladybirds
for their gardens, production is to be stepped up from 1000 larvae a week
to 1000 a day this summer.
Operating from the former guard room of Caen鈥檚 chateau, the department鈥檚
ladybird farm began to provide individual pouches of a dozen larvae for
local residents last year.
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From mid-May, local people can collect their free pouch together with
instructions and a questionnaire on the results they achieve in their gardens.