Can you tell me what this is ?

[sewer rat]

I'd be grateful if someone could take a look at page 75 of the June issue, Bob Flowerdews article on pests and pest control. There is a photo of a ladybird closing in on some aphids. But can anyone tell me what the black and orange beastie is on the left of the photo ?
Thanks in advance

[Paulottie]

I think you'll find its a ladybug pupae.

It's on the right in my copy?

[shirlthegirl43]

You beat me to it Paul - it is a baby ladybird indeed.

[sewer rat]

Cheers guys. My field is heaving with ladybirds and today I noticed loads of these little critters on my beans. Never seen one before - you live and learn ! Shame that it looks like a baddy when it's really a baby goodie !

[rustylady]

And they actually eat more baddies than the grownups do!

[cms]

Be prepared ... when they have eaten their fill and they are ready to pupate into ladybirds they will look for a vertical surface and attach themselves. I once had a garden with a 6 foot high brick wall and on the sheltered side there were pupating ladybirds everywhere.

They are fascinating to watch as they change and the ladybirds emerge - shame they look so ugly at the larval stage, you would think it would frighten their dinner away!

Enjoy

Cathy

[TPeers]

My kids call the larvae 'Dragons', so I get them running up and down with cries of 'the dragons are eating the flies!!'

Then they go and try to count all the ladybirds and larvae in the garden - keeps them quiet for ages.....

[shirlthegirl43]

I haven't seen a single ladybird this year. Hope they are still about!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think that we've got your share, STG - we've had loads! They seem to like to pupate on the mint in the yard, so when I get some for the new pots, I have to pick carefully!

The adults are a bit dim, though, as they are not always wandering round where the aphids are - e.g. hanging around on the rhubarb rather than the adjacent bored beans when the black fly were about, and when you move them, they fly off! Stupid things!

[Peter]

I think that we've got your share, STG - we've had loads! They seem to like to pupate on the mint in the yard, so when I get some for the new pots, I have to pick carefully!

The adults are a bit dim, though, as they are not always wandering round where the aphids are - e.g. hanging around on the rhubarb rather than the adjacent bored beans when the black fly were about, and when you move them, they fly off! Stupid things!

Hazel, haven't you read that article about how to train them?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hazel, haven't you read that article about how to train them?

Too busy trying to train the blackbirds to eat gooseberries (yuk!) rather than cherries......and the cats to chase the pigeons but not the blackbirds....

.....it's just not very well organised round here!

[Peter]

Too busy trying to train the blackbirds to eat gooseberries (yuk!) rather than cherries......

I'm afraid that the blackbirds are just following your bad example.