Last year our maple got covered in aphids, and it seems they are returning again this year. Fortunately, the ladybirds have made a comeback too, I can't wait to spy their larvae all over the tree. We can currently see ladybirds mating and their little yellow eggs on the tree trunk. There are over 100 species of ladybirds in Australia, I think we may have at least 3 varieties, all of which are very fond of our aphids.
Another welcome harbinger of spring are the hover-flies, zipping frantically from flower to flower. It is amazing to watch the multitude of life that arrives as our maple grows new leaves and flowers.
I wonder what this will change into.
I am a fan of most caterpillars, but spitfires really gross me out. A great link about them and the sawflies they will become
here. Sawflies are nowhere near as hideous as their oozing spitting larvae.
Great ladybird snaps Kirsty - ugghh gross catepillar ones though!! cheers Wendy
ReplyDeleteI hate spitfires too! When I first ever saw them in our Canberra garden I was terrified..they were in a huddle several times the size of your picture in a gum tree in our front garden..yuk! I do love ladybirds though but had no idea there were so many different varieties in Australia.
ReplyDeleteI love ladybirds. You've got some excellent photos of the ones in your garden there! Hopefully they do a great job again this year.
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed any ladybirds here yet - I will have to keep an eye out. I could do with some as my remaining brassicas are crawling with aphids.
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed any ladybirds here yet - I will have to keep an eye out. I could do with some as my remaining brassicas are crawling with aphids.
ReplyDeleteAhh, a touch of the ladybird, I see? Lovely! I noticed one while hanging out the washing the other day.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to find out what those awful larvae are..we have seen a few clusters here lately. Eagerly on the lookout for pear/cherry slug too, keen to catch it at the get go this year. No sign of it as yet.. :)