I am worried that I might have started a full-scale ladybird panic with my earlier post made a few minutes ago. I’ve already received two comments.
Repeat after me “ladybirds are cute”.
It’s only the one mentioned below that are found in the Brisbane area of Queensland that we have to stamp on with our big gardening shoes or pinch out with our big gardening gloves.
28-Spotted Potato Ladybird – or if you want the full name Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (synonym Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) Family Coccinellidae.
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Oct 09, 2012 @ 06:21:21
I had no idea there were ladybugs that weren’t good for the gardens. I love finding ladybugs here I think they are gorgeous, but then I like most bugs, snakes, lizards….I know I should have been born a boy.
Oct 09, 2012 @ 06:35:18
Yes, it was a surprise to me too as I love ladybugs. But the 28-spotted variety are easy to spot (no pun intended) as they chew their way through your potato plant leaves. I know we don’t eat the leaves of the potato plants, but it does affect the health of the plant, and of the potatoes growing beneath. I only discovered your blog this morning and enjoyed reading through your archives. Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Oct 09, 2012 @ 07:38:41
We briefly had potato bugs this year but luckily caught them in time and killed them all. Our potato crop was a good one for the small size of the plot we choose to try growing them in.
Oct 09, 2012 @ 08:23:51
Ha, well, she’s not as pretty as the red one, I’ll give her that!
Oct 09, 2012 @ 08:33:24
True, Mrs Yub.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 05:01:03
Off to count spots and kick ladybug butt! Seriously though, I doubt that we will see these little critters on Serendipity Farm because aside from a good crop of nettles, we haven’t managed to grow any potatoes this year and they would starve to death by natural attrition!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 06:25:22
Now that’s one way to get rid of the critters Fran. Starve ’em to death!
Oct 10, 2012 @ 12:04:41
Eat everything in your garden and watch them shrivel! 😉
Oct 10, 2012 @ 19:39:55
A wolf in sheeps clothing if I ever saw one!
Oct 11, 2012 @ 08:04:31
Certainly is Tanya. Pretty little thing scoffing on my potato tops!