Bug ID

[Aid]

Hi,

Can anyone identify this little fella for me?

Thanks,

Aid

[yoanbob]

dont know, makes my toes curl tho, could it be a toe curler bug?
i'm sure an expert will tell you soon.

[shirlthegirl43]

Whatever it is it isn't pretty is it

[Aid]

i saw them massing on the allotment, millions of them, now my phone's gone dead. I think I'd better get ou...................

[smallblueplanet]

eeeeyooou, loved only by its mother! what is it...........?

[Alice]

Don't know, but I thought he was quite handsome. Has he got a brother ?

[Earthbabe]

Does it actually move and uncurl? If not could be a crysalis for something. Reminds me a little of a ladybird larvae although they move like greased lightning and aren't usually so orange.

[momol]

Hi Aid,

Don't kill them, They are ladybirds cocoon stage ! I have picture of their larva stage for you. They will protect your plant from nasty insects like aphid, black fly... I have loads of them too in my garden.

Enjoy,
Momol

[Earthbabe]

Thanks momol, nice to know I was on the right lines. I'll probably find loads in time as my fennel is covered in larvae. I must admit I only squish what I know to be a nuisance and leave everything else to see what happens. Much more interesting for Miss EB on mini-beast hunts like that.

[momol]

Yes Earthbabe fennel does attact them( esspecially when it blooms ),I hardly grow flowers in my garden to attract insect, but I do have several herbs for them. Apart from fennel, coriander, celery, parsly, dill... ( all family of umbelliferae ) esspecially at their flowering stage. they always invite ladybugs. I planted them all over the place in my back garden. At the time when aphid were scarce, they eat the pollen and even nectar of those flowers. They said it will be helping to provide some sugar water (I haven't done that ). I have a very interesting web about insect ( friends and enemies ) with it's pictures: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7466.html
Hope it help for everybody not to crush " the friend of gardener ".

Momol

[Aid]

Hi, thanks for the ID. Haven't killed any. They're in my nettle patch, exactly what the habitat was for - friendly bugs.