I was just about to spray my crepe myrtles with insecticidal soap and garlic/pepper tea because the aphids were getting bad. But, I noticed a lot of ladybug larvae and ladybug eggs on them, so I left them alone. A few days later the larvae was having a feast and cleared both crepe myrtles of any aphid. There must be about one larvae per leaf!

Now... how do I make sure the ladybugs stay close by year after year?

This spring, I had bought some plants (caraway, cosmos, coriander) that supposedly attract ladybugs, but I have NEVER seen a ladybug even near them. What about those ladybug houses? Do they work?

I have always heard that the ladybugs you buy don't necessarily stick around because they really do "fly away home". But if you have eggs and larva, they should stay in the area. Every fall at my house all the ladybugs gather and crawl into my attic to hybernate, so maybe the ladybug houses would work for that.

I am not the most experienced gardener to ever post something on this
site, however, in my very first garden, veggies and some flowers,
I planted okra. Holy cow, do I have ladybugs. I live in the hill country
so maybe it's different than Houston. You might give it a try next
year. I don't even eat the slimy stuff but I have had a really prolific
year, and am giving it away just fine. Seems everyone from the
south loves it. Happy lady bugging.
amkind2life

I am not the most experienced gardener to ever post something on this
site, however, in my very first garden, veggies and some flowers,
I planted okra. Holy cow, do I have ladybugs. I live in the hill country
so maybe it's different than Houston. You might give it a try next
year. I don't even eat the slimy stuff but I have had a really prolific
year, and am giving it away just fine. Seems everyone from the
south loves it. Happy lady bugging.
amkind2life