Logroño Releases Ladybugs to Control Pests

Why this is here: Germany observed a 75% decline in flying insects over 27 years, highlighting the need for strategies to support insect biodiversity in urban areas.

The Logroño City Council in Spain is releasing ladybugs and Anthocoris nemoralis—a type of predatory bug—into parks and gardens to manage pests like aphids. The UTE Espacios Verdes Logroño is carrying out the biological control in spaces including Paseo del Espolón and Parque del Carmen, focusing on maple and rose bushes. These insects will prey on pests that affect urban trees, offering a natural alternative to chemical pesticides.

Conventional pesticides harm beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, contaminate soil and water, and can lead to pest resistance. Logroño’s approach aims to restore the natural predator-prey balance, selectively targeting pests without harming other species. This initiative also addresses public health concerns related to pesticide exposure, as documented by the World Health Organization.

However, the source of the released insects remains unclear. Using non-native specimens could affect local insect populations.

Furthermore, the city has not detailed how it will measure the success of this biological control or track the insects’ dispersal. The work to understand and refine this approach continues.