Friday, August 29, 2008

Ladybug/ladybird babies and teenagers

Recently I was geeking out over the ladybug nymphs and pupae on my sunflower. Some of the neighbors came over to see what I was so excited about. Not all of my neighbors knew what ladybug nymphs and pupae look like and I thought it was important to show them lest they accidentally mistake them for pests and kill them!

On the left is a ladybug nymph. Some people think they're ugly little alligator-looking thingies but I think they're kinda cute! They're also very important in the garden, I can't remember the exact numbers but ladybug nymphs eat far more aphids than the adults!

On the upper right hand side of the top photo are two ladybug pupae. Obviously, they can't eat while they're pupating but it's still important not to harm them because soon they will emerge as adults and eat more aphids for us! And if we're very lucky they'll stick around to lay more eggs. This is actually the second generation of ladybugs on my sunflowers. Ain't nature grand? It's so grand that I didn't even plant this sunflower that I'm enjoying so much! I suspect that the birdies planted it for me, wasn't that nice of them?

Below is another photo of a different nymph, so you can see a little bit better what they look like.

 

As a general rule, when you see a pest in your garden you should wait two weeks before spraying anything, because even "organic" sprays can kill beneficial insects such as these ladybugs. If after two weeks you don't see any beneficials then spray if you must but with the least toxic spray possible. For many insects a good hard spray of water is enough.

I would also add that if you see an insect in your garden and you don't know what it is then don't automatically assume it's naughty and start spraying. It's very possible that your unidentified insect is nice, or even simply neutral. If it is naughty then it will attract nice insects, and while you're waiting your two weeks insects you can do research to find out what your insect is.

18 comments:

  1. Very interesting... thank you for sharing and the pictures -- I always know when I see the nymphs... I probably have them from time to time... but I'm not aware of having seen them.

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  2. thanks amy for this great post about why we need to think before we spray. I am one who will either skim by fingers up the stem of the plant to remove the aphids or do the water method. I would love to see more of the Little lady bugs in my garden but for some reason they are scarce lately. Beautiful photos and such a wonderful share. Thank you.

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  3. This is such good information you share here. I think this two weeks you give to the problem is an excellent idea. Time to learn more by observing the problem for 14 days, gives a chance to think of the alternative solutions to take and knowing their behaviour helps. I have never witnessed these larvae - nor have given ladybirds that much thought before this post. Thanks to this information you share I will take more notice of them and know now what a larvae looks like from those excellent photos you present here. I have however been within a large swarm of ladybugs in Holland which was something to experience.

    Apart from a really good read this is an excellent post - the presentation is so easy on the eye, beautiful and such delicate photography which I really enjoyed. Do you have an album of the other ladybug photos you took?

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  4. I don't really know my good bugs v baddies too well. This was good advice. Thanks for sharing it. I don't like to spray. Soapy water from out your washing machine can take care of aphids. They die clean LOL

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  5. Great Blog Amy, I had no clue about ladybugs and the other stages of them. I only spray with water too and maybe some garlic spray.

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  6. beautiful photos..so clear and perfect..thank you for the information..I will also keep an eye out for them

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  7. My ladybugs were scarce until this sunflower started getting infested by aphids. I had to spray jets of roses for the first time in years! This is my first year in this house and I'm hoping that in future years as I add more insect friendly plants to my garden I will get more lady bugs.

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  8. My ladybugs were scarce until this sunflower started getting infested by aphids. I had to spray jets of roses for the first time in years! This is my first year in this house and I'm hoping that in future years as I add more insect friendly plants to my garden I will get more lady bugs.

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  9. That sounds amazing!

    I'm glad you enjoyed the post! No, I don't have an album of ladybug photos, perhaps I should put one together?

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  10. That sounds amazing!

    I'm glad you enjoyed the post! No, I don't have an album of ladybug photos, perhaps I should put one together?

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  11. Organicardening magazine used to have a great monthly column called, "Naughty, Nice, or Neutral?" They've discontinued the column but they probably still have that info on their website.

    They die clean, LOL! Good one :-)

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  12. Organicardening magazine used to have a great monthly column called, "Naughty, Nice, or Neutral?" They've discontinued the column but they probably still have that info on their website.

    They die clean, LOL! Good one :-)

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