Author Topic: anyone else noticed loads of ladybird larvae?? (Read 3695 times)

norfolklass · « **on:** May 24, 2007, 16:30:53 »

my garden is full of them, not that I'm complaining!
even spotted one inside my plastic greenhouse this morning, so my seedlings should be safe ;D

but:
I was wondering if Mother Nature knows something I don't and we're in for a plague of aphids...
or is it just down to the unusually dry and hot weather we've been having?

manicscousers · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2007, 18:01:59 »

wish we could bring some to our plot..I've only managed to find 3 ladybirds, no larvae as yet..but loads of greenfly..no doubt the ladybirds'll be along soon :)

nippie · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2007, 18:55:36 »

I'm ashamed to say I don't know what ladybird larvae look like :-[

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:04:21 »

A great many will have come through the mild winter, and we'll probably be in for swarms of them if we have a good summer.

nippie · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:23:44 »

Sooo what do they look like???? please!

okra · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:29:31 »

They are doing a good job on the blackfy

nippie · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:42:53 »

Haven't got any blackfy ;)
What do they look like?

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:49:53 »

http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/mystery/jul04_ans.htm

Carol · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:51:36 »

What doooooooooo they look like????

nippie · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:53:48 »

Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on May 24, 2007, 19:49:53

http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/mystery/jul04_ans.htm

Ooooh well I never, I can honestly say I have never seen any of those.
Still at least we know now Carol, you live and learn ::)

Carol · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2007, 19:54:28 »

Thanks Robert, now I know.... ::) ::)

cambourne7 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2007, 20:16:47 »

not seen any of them :'(

jeanaustin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2007, 07:24:13 »

We've also got lots more ladybird larvae than usual this year on the allotment and in the garden.

froglets · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2007, 08:37:13 »

This year they have suddenly appeared everywhere & are now pupating all over the palce in full view. I have been relocating the larvae I accidentaly knock off when weeding & been surprised at how fast they move.

njerowles · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2007, 13:21:50 »

Not noticed any larvae yet - but there are lots of ladybirds at my allotment, happily munching away at the aphids on my broad beans. Does anyone know what plants or flowers you need to attract more of the adults??? I would like to have this many every year as they are such a good pest controller. :)

Suzanne · « **Reply #15 on:** May 25, 2007, 13:39:38 »

Lots of larvae and adults - I think they are reducing the aphid population nicely, but a little worried re the species war between the ants that appear to be protecting the aphids and the ladybirds who are trying to eat them. I am hoping the ladybirds and their young are a bit like armoured tanks and can survive the chemical warfare the ants are throwing at them.

Luckily this is all happening in the flower border and not on veg allotments so at the moment I am being philosophical about it. Should the war extend to the veg and if it looks like the ants may win - I may have intervene. For the insect world does that make me a superpower? ???

SEDUM · « **Reply #16 on:** May 25, 2007, 14:04:21 »

I shall look out for them and make them very welcome :D

pye · « **Reply #17 on:** May 25, 2007, 16:57:32 »

There are loads around here too. Took these this afternoon. Is the second pic one in mid-transformation?

Will they make it through the cold snap that's forecast for next week?

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2007, 18:13:01 »

The second pic is indeed a pupa. Adult ladybirds are very well armoured, but not the larvae. But they all taste extremely nasty, and very little eats them.

MrsKP · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2007, 06:29:55 »

I wish I had ladybirds. I've only ever seen ONE in the garden in garden over the past 18 months.

I've seen more in the car park at work than the garden.

Mind you, I don't get many blackfly either.

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Author Topic: anyone else noticed loads of ladybird larvae?? (Read 3695 times)