at least half will just fly off. i do 3000 when the milkweed is about a foot tall. and the aphid population has become managble the past couple years. since i moved in 4 of the closest 6 houses have changed hands and all those new neighbors are gardeners. so if the bugs fly off and eat the aphids next door i'm ok with it.

asian lady beetle is pratically invasive. native parasitoids are probably better at controlling aphids.

these ones arn't native ro my area but they're not invasive. i've released them the past three years and they're chill. you can end up with a bag of the orangish fake ladybug if you go for the cheapest option on amazon though.

I dont remember what they looked like, but having been covered in thousands of lady bugs underneath a house to eventually find out they bite, oh do they bite, i never saw them the same again. Did it hurt? Not really but i had on a tie back suit. Without i would think it wouldnt feel so great getting bitten repeatedly.

I ended up soaking them down with commercial grade peroxide to get them off me.

Lady Bugs brutally murdering aphids and other garden pests.

OP released a bag full of ladybugs in the garden, likely to eat aphids before they eat the garden.

urban deadzone with chemically sterilized turf lawns. five years ago ants, aphids and box-elder were the only insect in the yard. i've set up a couple rain water ponds and planted large sections of native flowers over the past couple years. insect diversity has drastically improved, i spotted half a dozen bumblebee queens zig zagging the yard this spring. set up long piles of last seasons plant cuttings for overwintering.

Local gardening stores often carry ladybugs. I just bought some yesterday when buying some topsoil. The true value hardware store near me also stocks ladybugs.

Amazon, 3000 for $20! A few of them may even be alive!

Amazon