Beetles and Bugs

I encourage bugs in my Garden, at the cost of a few chewed plants,
they never seem to take over.

Typically I will get an infestation of something like aphids or whitefly. After a few days of wild spreading, a predator will appear.

This year I had a big aphid problem for a few days. Very quickly I had an army of ladybugs larvae on the go. Within 2 weeks not a single aphid, white fly or any other pest.

Fabulous Japanese Beetle making lace out of my potted plants!

This beetle was spotted in my front garden. He is about a quarter inch long and bright copper in colour. I found out that it is a Japanese beetle. Much hated by gardeners everywhere.

They congregate on one plant by marking it with pheromones. Then it's wild sex and goings on.

The grubs of the Japanese Beetle burrow in the ground and can really damage plants. I have a skunk that likes to dig up the lawn to get to the beetles.

Ants with aphids

Ladybug, this little guy (actually likely a girl) is on aphid control patrol. I get aphids, then shortly after I get ladybugs and funny little wasps and jumping spiders. The ladybug lays eggs, then these very hungry larvae feast on the aphids. Then the aphids disappear!

The Ladybug Lady has a cute ladybug information page, and information about raising them.

Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed in Hanlan's Point. Wikipedia has a nice article on the amazing monarch butterfly.

I grew milkweed at my new house to attract Monarch butterflies.

I also raised several batches of monarch butterflies and released them. I gathered eggs and brought them inside to hatch and released the butterflies after they come out of their cocoon.

Baby Spiders just hatched

Mid Summer orb weaver Spider

Big spider end of summer, this one lives near the composter and gets first choice of bugs and flies living there.

Splendid Mexican bug

Mexican butterfly

Butterflies in your Playground has a good list of informative articles. It's a good resource if you are doing a project on butterflies.

Butterfly in the back garden is a Red Admiral, another visitor to my garden, maybe a Comma?

Raising Butterflies How to raise butterflies, Video, photos. from Rasisingbutterflies.org.

Monarch feeding in my daughter's yard. There were dozens of them hovering around the Liatris. I've since put it in my flower garden and it continues to attract butterflies. Link to Amazon Liatris supplier: Gayfeather Seed Balls for Fall Planting - Bulk Seed Bombs for Guerrilla Gardening (Liatris spicata) (20)

Butterfly on coneflower

More animals here Bats, racoons, oppossum

emails: Christine

This web site reflects my personal ideas and doesn't represent anyone else's point of view.