Bug, bird and bat boxes question

[nick the grief]

try google

[Lesley Jay]

Nick!!!!!!!!!!

[vicki]

can you tell me where you get a ladybird box from? seems like a great idea!

[nick the grief]

Nick!!!!!!!!!!

You didn't try did you LJ

[Alice]

When we first came here we had loads of ladybirds, they were everywhere you looked.Now we have hardly any, although we do have loads of birds, butterflies and bees. We don't use insecticides on anything. The only thing I can think of that has changed is we have got rid of a lot of Hawthorn, but have replaced with other shrubs and trees. Any other theories on lack of ladybirds.

[fruit&vegvirgin]

I dont know, to quote Noel Coward, maybe the one in front was blind and her friend was showing her the way to go.... dont think I will google ladybirds + sex just at the moment, might do it later when I'm really bored!!!
vicki - garden centres have them, or wigglywigglers - they're on the net but cant remember the link.

[SueA]

Thanks for the link SBP it's a bit complicated & I'm having trouble getting the little b...s to sit still long enough to be identified! I think the big ginger ones are probably common carder bumblebees.
Vicki, I got my ladybird house from a pet shop, I think it was 'Pets at Home'. You can get them at some of the big garden centres & mail order from lots of garden suppliers.

[SueA]

Found a couple of links FVV, one of which actually shows the ladybirds in the act which can last up to 9 hours!
www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/gg12.php

[fruit&vegvirgin]

9 hours!!!!! must be tantric ladybird sex then! well, you learn something new every day!

[Peter]

Hmmm.

Good job it's not ladyboy.

[Looloobowers]

Am I on the right site??????

I come home from work and think ' Ill have a quick look at the grapevine' I thought I'd clicked on one of my DH's favorites!!!!!!

Keep smiling! Heheheheh!!

[SueA]

All in the interests of organic gardening LooLoo- honest.

[fruit&vegvirgin]

just caught two bright red lily beetles having sex on my fritillaries. stopped them in their tracks, I can tell you! (am I the only one who's squeamish about squishing bugs in their fingers? I only did it coz I thought of all the baby bugs...)

[lyndap]

You squished them mid romp!!!! Still what a way to go!I don't like squishing bugs with my fingers,I still shudder and feel sick every time I have to resort to this,but then I hate the thought of killing anything. Still, if needs must,and if it's a choice of bugs, slugs or plants, then its definatly a case of needs must!!

[SueA]

The only things I ever squash are lily beetles & vine weevils & I can't bear to do it with my bare hands so I usually take a paper tissue out with me whenever I go into the garden to squish them. I've often caught lily beetles in mid act- I think they must be randy little devils-no wonder they've spread across the country so fast!