On Wednesday, Central Park Conservancy released 140,000 ladybugs into the Wildflower Meadows near the Reservoir and the Shakespeare Garden to help ward off destructive insects. They act as a natural deterrent to aphids, which otherwise destroy plant life. High rates of reproduction make aphids difficult to ward off. Ladybugs serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to harmful pesticides. Central Park does still use pesticides, but sparingly. This is the fourth year the ladybugs have been employed.
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Photo Credit: The Wall Street Journal