Ladybird Larvae

[Sue]

Hi
I'd swear blind that I've never seen a ladybird larvae except from pictures but yesterday on the allotment I lost count after 40. I had terrible black fly on my cherry tree and I saw at one stage 8 ladybirds on the tree and eggs were laid. It looks as if they've all come from these hatchings as they're all around this end of the allotment.
Sadly the blackfly on the cherry tree (well, not sad for me) are no more, will they enjoy a chomp on the whitefly in the greenhouse?
Sue

[Plot17B]

they willl eat all kinds of aphid. we have had enormous greenfly invasions here recently (perfct conditions) and it's being followed by an enormous ladybird explosion. Will be a good year for them....so don't worry....the aphid populations of all types are in for a culling.....
P17B

[Two_Sheds]

I'm noticing lots and lots of ladybird larvae too. I keep picking them up and putting them on the worst aphidy plants.

[seasprout]

I have never see so many different stages of ladybirds around, this makes sense as earlier on the year we had heaps of greenfly.

I like Ladybirds. Did you know there are 23 british species.

[shoreham_steve]

Glad someone's got some ladybirds ! I've only seen one all year in my garden. Black fly have colonised my runners, broadies and elderberry trees. I'm getting repetitive strain injuries from squishing - can't keep up with 'em.
I'm getting desperate now - I'd even welcome those giant foreign ladybirds now!

[Paulottie]

Well there are pleanty around in this part of Sussex Steve, I have rarely noticed ladybird larvae but found loads the other day...ladybugs must have enjoyed that hot weather with plenty of mating!

I was pleased to be able to show the kids what the youngsters looked like.

[FB.]

Went for a riverside walk last week and noticed ladybirds/larvae/pupae all over the place - more than for many years.
But closer to home, there are only hoverfly larvae.

[di]

We have loads too...almost doubled my time weeding though,every time I found one I had to carefully pick it off & pop on a safe leaf!

[Paulottie]

Talking to a friend the yesterday who was remembering working on the pea harvest in 1976 and said that there were unbelievable populations in that hot summer; so perhaps the hot spell did have something to do with it. Hot spell definitely over now!... but was looking on some artichokes earlier and they were smothered in larvae.

[sherpa]

what does ladybird larvae look like? None here in éire? I haven't seen one since last year.

[Sue]

Paulottie
I was wondering if the hot spell is useful after the eggs have been laid. It was just "ordinary weather" then.
Sue

[shoreham_steve]

Paulottie said :
Talking to a friend the yesterday who was remembering working on the pea harvest in 1976 and said that there were unbelievable populations in that hot summer; so perhaps the hot spell did have something to do with it.

I remember being on the top deck of a bus in Brighton in 1976 when it drove through a 'cloud' of ladybirds. It was the same sound as being in a caravan in a hail storm (not my fondest holiday memory!!).
There were swarms of ladybirds all over the South that year. Not sure if this was countrywide though.

[Sarico]

hi everyone i was outside today and i was checking my strawberry plants because last time i spot some fly and according to some grape is a greenfly.. as advice i spray soapy water ( i will make a garlic and chilly spray but i was panicing and i could wait for it to br ready) on the plant and after a few second i spot this insect.. it looked like a baby beatle and i killed it by mistake... i search online and it looked like aladybird larvae... it was abaout 5-6 mm longo 6 legs and was black.. if it was a ladybird larvae do you think they will be there more considered that they laying a lot of eggs? if yes do you think i kill them spraying with soapy water?
i have a lot to learn...

[rustylady]

Sounds like a ladybird larva to me. I should ease up on the spraying and hope there are more about, if so they will soon deal with your greenfly.

[Two_Sheds]

according to some grape is a greenfly.. as advice i spray soapy water

I think it was me that guessed at greenfly: but I don't advocate spraying soapy water. It kills leaves, and other insects as you've found. Just squish them with your fingers. Quick and effective