Northport-East Northport Girl Scouts Help Release Ladybugs

FARMINGDALE, NY — Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum hosted its 4th Annual Ladybug Release for hundreds of Long Island community residents in three installments on Saturday and Sunday, according to a news release.

The events were designed to teach Long Islanders of all ages about the great value of ladybugs to the environment. Attendees learned how aphids, a common pest, can cause harm to a variety of plant life. Lady beetles, also known as ladybugs, which are natural predators to aphids, help control their population. Ladybugs can eat up to 5,000 aphids in their lifetime.

"One of the most beloved insects known for their beauty and as a bearer of good fortune, ladybugs are also one of nature’s greatest defenders of plant life," said Fred Hoffmann, Pinelawn’s grounds supervisor. "Pinelawn’s 500-acre property, which includes countless flowering gardens, botanicals, plants and arboreta, notably benefit from our annual Ladybug Release, which provides a much safer option to our environment than using pesticides."

The hands-on events included welcoming 60 Suffolk County Girls Scouts, ages 5 through 14 — and their parents — from Northport, East Northport, South Huntington, Kings Park and Dix Hills.

"We are honored to be an educator to the community and are always looking to be good stewards to the environment," said Kristyn Hovanec, marketing manager at Pinelawn. "All of our events book up and sell out almost immediately after they’re announced. Each is special and unique and imparts valuable information to the public while also providing quiet moments of remembrance for families."

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum also brought the event directly to the residents of Sunrise Senior Living. Forty residents and their families were invited to take part in two sessions, with one specially designed for memory care residents.

These educational events are free of charge and open to the public. Click here to see the full 2021 calendar of events and be added to the park's email list.

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum is at 2030 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale.