In article ,
"John Hutchison" wrote:

Hello All,


Hope you're enjoying the summer as much as I am. I'm in the middle of
laying a patio, so sitting catching up on the posts is a welcome break

Whilst laying the patio, I noticed some strange insects that I don't
remember seeing as a child, so I'm struggling to name them...

They are between 8-15mm long (about 1/4" to 1/2" in old money),
predominantly black, with what looks to my eye to be a segmented carapace.
The legs are placed markedly towards the head area. Down each edge of the
carapace, there are 3 reddish dots or squares, sometimes with a small black
band dividing them along the length of the beast.

Any ideas what they are, and should I start chucking them to the birds?


TIA,


John



Don't know, but these sites might be useful:

www.bug-net.co.uk

www.insect-world.com

I kid you not, they are both real, but both require different info to
that you gave.

--

"I go online sometimes, but...everyone's spelling is really bad,
and...it's depressing"

In article ,
"John Hutchison" wrote:

Hello All,


Hope you're enjoying the summer as much as I am. I'm in the middle of
laying a patio, so sitting catching up on the posts is a welcome break

Whilst laying the patio, I noticed some strange insects that I don't
remember seeing as a child, so I'm struggling to name them...

They are between 8-15mm long (about 1/4" to 1/2" in old money),
predominantly black, with what looks to my eye to be a segmented carapace.
The legs are placed markedly towards the head area. Down each edge of the
carapace, there are 3 reddish dots or squares, sometimes with a small black
band dividing them along the length of the beast.

Any ideas what they are, and should I start chucking them to the birds?


TIA,


John



Don't know, but these sites might be useful:

www.bug-net.co.uk

www.insect-world.com

I kid you not, they are both real, but both require different info to
that you gave.

--

"I go online sometimes, but...everyone's spelling is really bad,
and...it's depressing"

Ladybird larvae?

"Ian Cundell" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"John Hutchison" wrote:

Hello All,


Hope you're enjoying the summer as much as I am. I'm in the middle of
laying a patio, so sitting catching up on the posts is a welcome break


Whilst laying the patio, I noticed some strange insects that I don't
remember seeing as a child, so I'm struggling to name them...

They are between 8-15mm long (about 1/4" to 1/2" in old money),
predominantly black, with what looks to my eye to be a segmented
carapace.
The legs are placed markedly towards the head area. Down each edge of
the
carapace, there are 3 reddish dots or squares, sometimes with a small
black
band dividing them along the length of the beast.

Any ideas what they are, and should I start chucking them to the birds?


TIA,


John



Don't know, but these sites might be useful:

www.bug-net.co.uk

www.insect-world.com

I kid you not, they are both real, but both require different info to
that you gave.

--

"I go online sometimes, but...everyone's spelling is really bad,
and...it's depressing"

Ladybird larvae?

"Ian Cundell" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"John Hutchison" wrote:

Hello All,


Hope you're enjoying the summer as much as I am. I'm in the middle of
laying a patio, so sitting catching up on the posts is a welcome break


Whilst laying the patio, I noticed some strange insects that I don't
remember seeing as a child, so I'm struggling to name them...

They are between 8-15mm long (about 1/4" to 1/2" in old money),
predominantly black, with what looks to my eye to be a segmented
carapace.
The legs are placed markedly towards the head area. Down each edge of
the
carapace, there are 3 reddish dots or squares, sometimes with a small
black
band dividing them along the length of the beast.

Any ideas what they are, and should I start chucking them to the birds?


TIA,


John



Don't know, but these sites might be useful:

www.bug-net.co.uk

www.insect-world.com

I kid you not, they are both real, but both require different info to
that you gave.

--

"I go online sometimes, but...everyone's spelling is really bad,
and...it's depressing"

"John Hutchison" wrote:

Hello All,


Hope you're enjoying the summer as much as I am. I'm in the middle of
laying a patio, so sitting catching up on the posts is a welcome break


Whilst laying the patio, I noticed some strange insects that I don't
remember seeing as a child, so I'm struggling to name them...

They are between 8-15mm long (about 1/4" to 1/2" in old money),
predominantly black, with what looks to my eye to be a segmented
carapace.
The legs are placed markedly towards the head area. Down each edge of
the
carapace, there are 3 reddish dots or squares, sometimes with a small
black
band dividing them along the length of the beast.

Any ideas what they are, and should I start chucking them to the
birds?


TIA,


John



"Pickle" wrote in message
...


Ladybird larvae?



Thanks Pickle - I've searched under ladybird larvae, and that's exactly what
they are. I'll try to leave them undisturbed...

If you've got any plants being troubled with aphids, your ladybird larvae will love 'em