A Ladybug Interlude . . .

June 30th, 2009 - filed under: Furthermore » Inspiration

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Dear, dearest readers,

Tonight is a night for taking it easy, but I just couldn’t pass up sharing this incredible picture with you. Teeny, tiny, garden guardians, hatching in my tomatoes this afternoon.

Magic!

Edit – 3 July 2009: It has been brought to my attention that these are not, actually, baby ladybugs. They are, in fact, evil biting bugs that most likely intend to infiltrate my tomatoes. Ahh, well. They’re still adorable, ain’t they?

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  • Don

    Lady Bugs Rock, I always know my garden is doing well when the top predators arive, my personal favorite Pray Mantis.

  • hayley

    i am so incredibly jealous. you have to tell me how you did this! i released at least 1k ladybugs about 2 weeks ago. i’ve also done so in the past. i’ve never had that kind of result… so jealous. CONGRATS. i have to see your garden. let’s compare field notes some time, for real.

  • http://www.twitter.com/aspiehler Andrew

    Nice shot. I just found your website yesterday and I’m loving the urban agriculture that you’re doing – I wish I could get away with a couple of chickens (and ducks) where I live!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Don – I would love to find a mantis! They’re one of my favorite insects.

    @ hayley – I also released 1000 bugs a few weeks ago. Maybe the eggs were in there? Or maybe they got busy once I let them free? Who knows, I can hardly take credit for it though! But yes, I’d love to compare notes sometime. =)

    @ Andrew – Thanks, and welcome! I would love to have ducks as well, but they are quite the little stinkers, so I’ll have to wait till I have more space. ;)

  • http://easierthanyouthink.wordpress.com Ginger Baker

    We found at least 4 praying mantis pods when clearing out some stuff from the garden in APril :-)

  • Co

    I loves me some lady beetles. Have you read any literature on what is effective per square meter? I just ask because lady beetles disperse like woah after they pupate.

    Mantids might be a nice option, too. If you’re looking for another really great, voracious predator, check out brown or green lacewing larvae. They nail aphids and other pests like crazy.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    Ginger Baker – Jealous!!! Did you keep them and hatch them?

    Co – Thanks for the heads up! I do have a lot to learn about beneficial insects and natural pest predators. Add it to the ever-growing list, haha!

  • Tracy Belaski

    You mentioned that these were not, in fact, ladybugs. What are they?? My parents just found some in the garden today and I can’t find what they are anywhere online.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Tracy Belaski – They belong to the order Hemiptera – ‘true bugs’. They are evil little plant eaters! If you can, get them outta there!

    Luck!

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