Lacewings and ladybirds

[BettyB]

Lacewings and ladybirds are collecting in my (unheated ) bedroom; more this year than usual. They are welcome to stay but would they survive in a cold greenhouse if I moved them? They would be plentifully supplied with aphids when they wake up in the Spring and the benefit would be mutual. Or should I leave them indoors and move at the end of winter?

When do they lay their eggs? I believe that lacewings breed more than once in the year. The early larvae would be of great benefit.

This is really weird but the lacewings also collect in the fuel cap compartment of our car. Why? They fly off when it's opened and at one time I meticulously released them all but there are always more there next time we fill up so I just leave them alone now.

[Paul mabbott]

I'm not so sure about lacewings but ladybirds can tolerate a certain amount of freezing so, unless you have long, heavy cold spells, they should survive cold greenhouse temperatures *but* they absorb radiant heat so are likely to "wake up" on bright days. So a dark place such as a garage may be preferable unless you can somehow darken the greenhouse?

Fascinating about them collecting in fuel-cap compartment? Why they's go there in the first place, I don'y know, but once ladybirds have used a place, that place will be used again because the ladybirds secrete aggregation hormones to attract company.