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Most days, seeing thousands of bugs crawling through a park would have people running the other way. On Thursday, however, it was exactly what everyone came to see.
More than 200,000 ladybugs found new homes across Regina after about 1,500 people gathered at Victoria Park for the city’s annual ladybug release.
The event gave kids the chance to hold, release and learn about the tiny insects.
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Ashley Thompson, manager of parks technical services with the City of Regina, said the event is about more than sending ladybugs into the world.
“We are handing them out in these little containers to everybody that comes, and there are tons of activities too, all very much ladybug-themed,” Thompson explained.
She said the event has been running for about a decade and focuses on teaching kids about the environment and natural ways to protect plants.
Addison (middle) and Arlo Emsley (right) were among about 1,500 people who attended Regina’s annual ladybug release at Victoria Park on July 9, 2026. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
“It’s just an event to try to educate the public, children especially, about biological pest control and being good environmental stewards,” Thompson said.
“Ladybugs do a lot to help control pest populations, particularly aphids,” Thompson said. “They’re really good at controlling the aphid population.” According to Thompson, a single ladybug can eat about 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
For many of the kids at Victoria Park, the science came second to getting their hands on the bugs. Addison Emsley said the day was filled with a lot of fun.
“We’re getting face paint and eating cookies and stuff like that,” Emsley said.
She said she has not always been a fan of the tiny insects.
“I used to think they were disgusting,” she said.
Ashley Thompson, manager of parks technical services with the City of Regina, releases ladybugs during the annual Ladybug Release at Victoria Park on July 9, 2026. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
That changed on Thursday, with Emsley saying she now thinks ladybugs are “cool.”
Her brother, Arlo, was more than happy to let the bugs crawl around. When asked about his favourite thing about ladybugs, Arlo had a simple answer.
“Letting them crawl on me,” he said.
After getting his container, Arlo made sure the ladybugs got a proper send-off.
“I opened the lid and I put them in the grass, and then I picked them up and let them crawl on me,” he said.
Millie (right) and Silas (Left) Schefield show off their ladybug face paint during Regina’s annual Ladybug Release at Victoria Park on July 9, 2026. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
Others came ready for the occasion, including Avery Aubichon, who dressed as a ladybug. Aubichon said she loved to see the bugs fly, as she flapped her arms.
Thompson said seeing kids get excited about insects is one of the best parts of the yearly tradition.
“They get so excited about all of it,” Thompson said. “They love the ladybugs. They’re not scared of bugs.”
Silas Schefield had a different plan for his ladybugs. Instead of releasing them right away, he wanted to keep them a little closer.
“I’m not gonna release mine,” Schefield said. “Bring them into my house, keep them as pets.”
His sister, Millie Schefield, had a different idea about where her new tiny helpers belonged. Her plan is to “put them in the garden.”
Along with the release, the event included face painting, interactive games, giveaways and other ladybug-themed activities.
