Some of you may know that I'm doing the organic gardener route. My main bugs/predators have been aphids and a few worms; not sure what kind, but I'll take a picture when I find more. The only spray that I have been using is Cayenne mixed with Garlic, works decent. I'm also doing the hand picking thing. Aphids are just a pain in the butt and at times I think they're winning -in number but nothing seems to be dying plant wise- as on some plants I have a lot.
Well, yesterday it was a pleasant surprise to find a baby Praying Mantis (pic 1) on my Strawberries and what looks an Ant Lion (pic 2) on my peppers. I'm not sure if it's an Ant Lion as I thought they hung out only underground -in the larvae stage that is- but this one is not. Whatever it is, it's eating those aphids as I saw one in it's mouth. Any thoughts on what it might be?
Pic 1
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Pic 2
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Middleman777
- Full Member
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:56 pm
- Location: Los Angeles in the SFV zone 10a
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Middleman777
- Full Member
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:56 pm
- Location: Los Angeles in the SFV zone 10a
Cool thanks for the identification! I have seen larger ones (with orange on their body) but this one was small enough that I didn't see such color.lorax wrote:Pic 2 shows a ladybug larva. They're fantastic, hungry little bugs - one can eat more than three times its body weight in aphids in a single day.