72,000 Ladybugs Released Inside Mall Of America, Minnesota: Third Graders Receive Interesting Science Lesson Through Earth Day Event

72,000 ladybugs were released in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on Monday as part of an environmentally friendly Earth Day effort to illuminate small insects that wreak havoc on the mall's plant life.

The mall houses over 30, 000 plants, including more than 400 trees, according to the Inquisitr.  This event is part of the mall's ongoing effort to stay 'green.'

"Since its opening in 1992, the facility has been using environmentally friendly procedures such as passive solar heating and an extensive recycling program," reported to the International Business Times.

"Ladybugs are what I like to call, sort of a biological defense system," said Lydell Newby, MOA's Senior Manager of Environmental Services, according to KARE 11.

A group third graders from Visitation School in Minnesota were able to take part in an interesting science lesson as they were able to see, hold, and assist in the release of the ladybugs, according to the Inquisitr.  

"Before I got to hold these lady bugs, I was pretty scared of them," third grader, Sheriya Wentzlaff told KARE 11. "I overcame my fear and helped the lady bugs."

Gardeners use ladybugs as a natural form of pest control and it is safe and very effective, according to the Inquisitr.

"We learned that lady bugs are better than pesticides, because they do not damage the environment," third-grader, Will Norris, told KARE 11.

The biggest threat to the plant life in the mall are small aphids which feed on the plants and cause irreparable damage, reports the Inquisitr. Lady bugs eat aphids as well as other small pests without causing harm to the plants.  Although they can consume plants, they prefer to eat insects and insect eggs.

"They can eat and eat and eat. A ladybug can eat thousands of aphids," Newby told KARE 11. "You can release some lady bugs in your own garden. And in an outside climate, once the conditions are right, they can live in your garden forever."

Some shoppers have been concerned about the possibility that the bugs may infect the mall's food court, according to the International Business Times.  Ladybugs only live on the plants for their two-week life span and are maintained by staff, according to an MAO spokesperson.  "We've been doing this for years," the spokesperson told IBT. "No ladybug takeover yet. Chances are, you've visited the mall during this short period and have never noticed them. They are completely harmless." 

The Mall of America is the second largest shopping pavilion in the country, according to NBC News.  They have about 40 million visitors a year, according to the Inquisitr, and more visitors came on Monday to witness the release of the ladybugs