Ladybugs to the Rescue!

Discussion in 'Wildlife in the Garden' started by hummingbird3172, Jun 11, 2007.

  1. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    My superbells have been rescued! They were getting covered with icky orange aphids and I was in desperate want for some ladybugs. I was even about to order some, which is kind of pricey but that very day I found a ladybug sleeping on a palm frond. I moved her to my superbells and she got to work. Later I noticed several other ladybugs (different types too) feeding. The next day I saw ladybug eggs:

    [​IMG]

    Little clusters of bright yellow eggs.....it has been a few days and now they are hatching:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I've read that they eat the egg cases and then go to work eating aphids. Mama ladybug (ladybugs) laid eggs on many leaves so I will not have to order any! The larva are supposed to be even better aphid eaters!

    It will be fun to watch the cycle!
     
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  3. dooley

    dooley Super Garden Turtle

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    Wow! I don't think I've seen ladybug eggs or even thought of looking for them. I haven't seen but one or two this year. Last year they seemed to be every where you looked. They are such a neat looking bug. Dooley
     
  4. jubabe296

    jubabe296 Official Garden Fairy

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    I haven't seen any ladybugs around here this year. I hope they show up soon! I will have to look for the eggs now that I know what to look for!
     
  5. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    If you notice ladybugs feeding on aphids--especially if you see more than one, check underneath the leaves for the eggs. Mine are in a hanging basket so they are pretty easy to find. The larva will be stuck there since they won't be able to fly...I may more some to my other aphid infested areas.

    As they grow I think they are going to look like this:

    [​IMG]
     



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  6. jubabe296

    jubabe296 Official Garden Fairy

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    Thanks for the info Hummingbird!:) I'll definitely be on the lookout!:)
     
  7. teddybear

    teddybear In Flower

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    Thanks for the pics. I've killed several eggs thinking they were bad bugs. I'll be more careful now. THANK-YOU!
     
  8. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    :-D You're welcome!

    I think the Mom is a Multicolored Asian Ladybeetle:

    [​IMG]

    Or she might be this one:

    [​IMG]

    Which I think is a Spotless Ladybug, because it didn't have spots, but some other types don't either. The one without spots was quite fat, so she may be the one...but then there are sickening number of aphids on this plant.

    This ladybug is called a Stabbed-Twice Ladybeetle:

    [​IMG]

    What a name!
     
  9. teddybear

    teddybear In Flower

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    I never knew there were so many. Maybe I should get a bug book and pay more attention outside.
     
  10. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    I didn't know either, I really had to search to find out about the black one......I thought they were all about the same, but with different coloring...there are some types that don't even look like ladybugs.
     
  11. stratsmom

    stratsmom Flower Fanatic

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    Thanks for posting the picture of the LadyBug larvae. It is kind of icky looking. Now that I know what it is I won't be so freaked out if I run across one!
    Deanna
    :-D
     
  12. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    You know, I am horrified that I used to play pretty rough with these when I was a kid...I didn't know that they were ladybugs...I called them alligator bugs. Only recently did I find out what they really were....
     
  13. bethie

    bethie Young Pine

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    I've always loved ladybugs, especially that black one. Here they are in abundance. They migrate thru here in the fall and a zillion end up in the house. One winter we went to paint the living room and there were a zillion on the backs of pictures and the back of the sofa. It was too cold to evict them so we just pretended we didn't see them.
     
  14. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    Bethie, you have a very warm heart! :)

    I mostly find the asian ones or the solid red ones...I know that it takes at least a few hours for newly changed one to get their spots so I am not sure if they are the same....

    Here are a few more pictures...showing how the babies have changed:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I've moved a few to another aphid prone area. They are growing pretty fast!

    I'm guessing that they probably ARE the Asian variety. :)
     
  15. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Anna I love the way you look after even the tiniest creatures in your garden. :-D I hope they devour all those pesky aphids for you.
     
  16. hummingbird3172

    hummingbird3172 In Flower

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    :D Thanks Eileen, I guess as long as they aren't horribly destructive they can stay....I try to keep some sort of balance. The helpful creatures do get preferential treatment though! :smt002
     

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