Lady bugs & Chamomile

[Grandpa]

I don't know if Chamomile and Lady bugs have an affliction for each other, if my chamomile has a ton of others bugs in it the lady bugs like and that I can't see, or if I'm just lucky but on the one large 3'+ tall clump (1'x2') of chamomile I have amongst our other flowers etc I can easily count 25 of them at a quick glance. The Chamomile is quite healthy FWIW and loaded with bright yellow flowers. They've not migrated to the bachelor buttons, roses or other nearby herbs & flowers, just the Chamomile.

Grandpa, zone 7 (Albuquerque)

[Phisherman]

I planted Chamomile about two months ago (also Zone 7). The plant has tripled in size, growing fast and just beginning to flower. It gets about 6 hours of sun. I haven't noticed any ladybugs on it, although there are plenty on the Rose of Sharon, 5 yards away. Mine is growing next to established thyme, oregano, rue, a 70-foot sweet gum tree trunk, and rug juniper (which I keep trimmed back). Perhaps there might be aphids on your Chamomile. I'm new to this plant, and the fragrance is very appealing to me.

[Pen]

Perhaps lady bugs like pollen? Chamomile is a wonderful campanion plant, it seem to attract many beneficial insects. It's also a favorite of hover flies. :)

[Sed5555]

If you can't find any insect pests (aphids, spider mites) using a hand lens or magnifying glass, then I would venture a guess that they are there for the pollen. Lady beetles do not subsist on other insects alone. I have never seen chamomile listed as a plant that attacts them, but they do like plants with white flowers (cosmos) so who knows. sed5555