Well, I wish I had some pictures to post, but unfortunately my (pos) camera doesn't do well with close-ups. Yesterday when I went out to water my plants, I noticed that on one cluster of leaf lettuce there were several bugs I had not seen before. The bugs are about 1/4" long, with a short thorax and relatively long abdomen. They have 6 legs, and are mostly black with two orange stripes running most (but not all) the length of their bodies. They would run around on the leaves when I watered (maybe to get away from the water?) but didn't really seem to be trying to hide from me. The plants I have seen them on seem to have less of a problem with cabbage worms than other lettuce plants. Are these bugs eating (or otherwise warding off) the cabbage worms, or are they also harmful to the plant and should be removed?
Thanks
Well, I can think of 2 bugs they are sort of like: one could be ladybug larvae, which look NOTHING like a ladybug, the other sounds more like lightning bugs. If you're seeing fewer pests on the plants with them, then I'd suggest leaving them be and see if they are beneficial.
My way is: unless I catch a bug in the act of eating MY plants, or I know right off the bat that this or that bug is bad, I leave them be and try to observe what happens with them around.
My way is: unless I catch a bug in the act of eating MY plants, or I know right off the bat that this or that bug is bad, I leave them be and try to observe what happens with them around.
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lillgardnr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:12 pm
- Location: El Dorado, CA.
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lillgardnr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:12 pm
- Location: El Dorado, CA.
I found all those litlle guys in the same area of the garden. they seemed to all be gathering around the plants that had these yellow little bugs that I havent seen in the garden before yesterday....
I also have a photo of the other bug...I think these guys are bad...they have been enjoying my turnip greens. the kids and I squash them all the time...they are usually a lot bigger than this...they move slowly, but don't seem to like to eat any of my other veggies. though I have seen them on my wild flowers. they place their striped eggs under the greens in neat little rows...we squash them to....
[/img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/004.jpg[/img]
my poor turnip greens....we squash and squash and squash...and there are always more...
[/img]
I also have a photo of the other bug...I think these guys are bad...they have been enjoying my turnip greens. the kids and I squash them all the time...they are usually a lot bigger than this...they move slowly, but don't seem to like to eat any of my other veggies. though I have seen them on my wild flowers. they place their striped eggs under the greens in neat little rows...we squash them to....
[/img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/004.jpg[/img]
my poor turnip greens....we squash and squash and squash...and there are always more...
[/img]Thanks for all the replies! Well, they don't really look like anything in those pictures that lillgardnr posted. I'm pretty sure they're not lightningbugs, I think I know what those look like. I've seen them sitting right next to some ladybugs, and they are actually about the same size. Not sure if that is any indication in one way or another about them being ladybug [I]larvae[/I]. But that brings me to another question... are ladybugs harmful to my garden?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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FreeNatureArts
- Full Member
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:13 pm
- Location: zone 6 in indiana
Ladybugs are one of the most benificial bugs in your garden, in japan and other regions they consider the ladybug a great deal of luck, many afids, boxelder beetles and cabbage months have no where to escape if the ladybugs and praying matises are in high season.
Long back end? Well from the vegie it's on, I only know one bug like that and it's been hell on wheels in our garden, the "Cucumber Beetle" Loves all sorts of greenery and even becomes a anal little pest on Squash and pickles, we're constantly picking them off cause it doesint seem as though pestisides of organic matter bothers them. When in high season a few dozen ladybugs may put a end to them by eating the larva of this yellow striped monster. The link below is a picture of one.
https://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/images/western_cucumber_beetle.jpg
And this may be why you see them together. But the ladybug is no harm to you and is very benificial to your plants in protection of the plant and airation of soil when they lay their eggs
. I also know another bug thats striped, and from what he's done to our greens their not good ether, if you see it eating the leafs and the plant suffering with no protector bug in site, more then likely is a pest more then plesent protector. But being in indiana it's different then other places, just best to observe them till you protecting it, and if that happends it's time to get rid of them.
Long back end? Well from the vegie it's on, I only know one bug like that and it's been hell on wheels in our garden, the "Cucumber Beetle" Loves all sorts of greenery and even becomes a anal little pest on Squash and pickles, we're constantly picking them off cause it doesint seem as though pestisides of organic matter bothers them. When in high season a few dozen ladybugs may put a end to them by eating the larva of this yellow striped monster. The link below is a picture of one.
https://www.mastergardeners.org/tips/images/western_cucumber_beetle.jpg
And this may be why you see them together. But the ladybug is no harm to you and is very benificial to your plants in protection of the plant and airation of soil when they lay their eggs
. I also know another bug thats striped, and from what he's done to our greens their not good ether, if you see it eating the leafs and the plant suffering with no protector bug in site, more then likely is a pest more then plesent protector. But being in indiana it's different then other places, just best to observe them till you protecting it, and if that happends it's time to get rid of them.
Here is a link to the best site I have found of beneficial insects. Thought it might help in identifying the goodies! 
https://entomology.unl.edu/ornamentals/beneficials/beneficials.htm
LMcNair Check out assasin bug on the web. It may be your red and black insect. There are many slightly different ones. If it is it is a good guy.
https://entomology.unl.edu/ornamentals/beneficials/beneficials.htm
LMcNair Check out assasin bug on the web. It may be your red and black insect. There are many slightly different ones. If it is it is a good guy.
Hello
Not sure what the red and black bugs are--pretty sure they aren't ladybugs--at least none that I have seen in Canada.(not even the baby ones) Good luck on keeping or getting rid of them--depending if they are good or not.
Your picture with the little yellowish bugs look like aphids--If you had ladybugs they would be eating them and getting control over them.
Not sure what the red and black bugs are--pretty sure they aren't ladybugs--at least none that I have seen in Canada.(not even the baby ones) Good luck on keeping or getting rid of them--depending if they are good or not.
Your picture with the little yellowish bugs look like aphids--If you had ladybugs they would be eating them and getting control over them.