alliekiwi
Member
Where's the bug spray?!
Posts: 52
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Post by alliekiwi on Jan 28, 2009 4:27:01 GMT
My son was quite excited a week or so ago to see a 'proper' ladybird in our garden. That is, a red one with black spots. He thought they weren't real, but were just what people drew for some reason, sort of a stereotype. Our ladybirds, you see, are more commonly steelblue (introduced from across the ditch): or yellow and black (kind of splotches, not spots): Are there other types where you are, or are the red and black spotty ones the most common? Allie
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Post by Pip Freeman on Jan 29, 2009 12:21:41 GMT
There are apparently about fifty species of ladybirds in Britain, we only really see the red with black spot one. See here, www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o1188-ladybirds.phpIn Norfolk a ladybird is called a 'Bishy barnybee' supposedly named after a Bishop Barnaby who perhaps wore red robes. Do you know the children's poem--- Lady bird, ladybird fly away home, Your house is on fire and your children are gone. A legacy of childhood, i still let a ladybird climb up my finger to the tip, say the verse and he/she invariably spreads his wings and flies away. It's nice to still be a child!
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ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,687
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Post by ragdall on Mar 10, 2009 19:02:09 GMT
Allie, Your ladybird photos are gorgeous! We have insects that look similar to those you posted, but we don't call them ladybirds or ladybugs. I came across this interesting ladybug picture online today: pixdaus.com/single.php?id=8402A few days ago a typical red and black spotted ladybug appeared on the wall behind my kitchen sink and stayed in a space between the top of the backsplash and the window frame for several days. I'm bewildered as to where a ladybug came from in the middle of winter and what it's eating. I'd love to let it feed on the aphids which appeared on my Geraniums in one room downstairs, but I've been spraying them with dish detergent and am afraid that would harm the ladybug.
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Post by Pip Freeman on Aug 12, 2009 10:47:43 GMT
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alliekiwi
Member
Where's the bug spray?!
Posts: 52
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Post by alliekiwi on Aug 13, 2009 12:04:45 GMT
WOW! That's amazing, Pip! I'll have to show my son the pictures tomorrow. Thanks for the link!
Glad to see you back posting - I was a bit worried when you'd not been around for a bit.
Allie
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ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,687
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Post by ragdall on Aug 15, 2009 7:27:16 GMT
Oh my goodness, Pip! That must have been a sight to see.
We love ladybugs here because they clean up aphids, but I can imagine that would be much too much of a good thing. I don't think I'd enjoy having great numbers of them everywhere.
I agree with Allie, it's good to see you posting again.
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