Pest Control and Natural Predators

[Cedars]

Today I stumbled upon a website that has good information on insect predators, their life cycles, and pictures of them in various stages of development.

 

In order to encourage the existance of these natural means of pest control, you have to know what they look like and what they need to survive and thrive.

 

Heres the Ladybug/Lady beetle link:

 

Lady Beetles

 

Heres another that shows a different type of larvae for a different type of lady bug, but the information on this page isnt as detailed:

NCSU Biological Control Information Center : NCSU Department of Entomology

 

I knew what the larvae looked like, and this is what I would add as general information.

 

The types of plants I most often see the larvae perched on is the Goldenrod before it blooms. These plants often have ants tending to a red aphids type of bug on the stems. The location in my yard where I see the most of these ladybug larvae has a good sun exposure from 9am to around 2pm. The area below the plants is one I dont mow and has several types of grasses, and collects leaves during the fall. I also toss small sticks in there as I roam around the yard, clearing the paths I have.

 

I would also add that there is alot of color variations in the larvae but the basic shape of them is uniform. Someone told me they called the larvae "leaf dragons" when they were kids (and if you see them, you will understand why), as that is what they had been told they are. This person had no idea that this bug they knew from childhood grew into the ladybug.

 

Here is the main page for the insect predator page:

 

Predators Table of Contents

 

Here is a page on the Asian Lady Beetle, which has driven some homeowners crazy with its methods of intruding into the home. However, this is a beneficial insect and maybe it would be best to bring them back outside rather than killing them off.

 

FACT SHEET: The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle