Ladybirds
 

Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).
--
Regards,

Troy the Black Lab.

Ladybirds
 

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 22:22:29 +0100, Troy wrote:

Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

I've had a fair few already - I thought that they may have been
brought by the plethora of leaves floating around from last autumn and
also the infestations of insecty things brought by last summer's heat.

Glenys

--
"A Newsweek poll said if the election were held today, John Kerry
would beat Bush 49 percent to 46 percent. And today, President Bush
called Newsweek magazine a threat to world peace." Jay Leno

Ladybirds
 

"Troy" wrote in message
...
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this
or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

No (Reading)

--
Tumbleweed

Remove my socks for email address

Ladybirds
 

In article , Troy
writes
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

Yes, we have lots of them in our garden.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Ladybirds
 

"Troy" wrote in message
...
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this
or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).
--
Regards,

Troy the Black Lab.

Perhaps it's in response to the awful amount of greenfly. I've just had to
ditch a load of herbs I was about to plant out because they were more
greenfly than plant. I've never seen so many so early. Product of a mild
winter I suppose.

Vicky

Ladybirds
 

Troy wrote:
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

Quite a few. Also the biggest one I've ever seen about half the size of
my little finger nail.

Kev,

Ladybirds
 

"Alan Gould" wrote in message
...
In article , Troy
writes
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this
or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

Yes, we have lots of them in our garden.
--

I noticed loads here too, in Cheshire, when I started clearing the garden.
The nettles that I let grow wild are infested, and the greenhouse had loads.
I'm looking forward to an aphid reduced season :)

Kase

Ladybirds
 

In article , Vicky
writes

"Troy" wrote in message
...
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this
or
are they just in my garden :-)

Perhaps it's in response to the awful amount of greenfly. I've just had to
ditch a load of herbs I was about to plant out because they were more
greenfly than plant. I've never seen so many so early. Product of a mild
winter I suppose.

Greenfly have the useful habit of diving for safety when a predator (or
thumb) appears. It means you can pick up the pot hold it over a large
white plate or piece of paper, and sae 80% of them off. They're much
easier to squash on a flat surface. Holding the pot upside down and
washing the plant under a strong stream from the cold tap will get rid
of a lot more. Then inspection of the tips to get rid of any more you ca
see.

Once the plant is in the garden, has hardened up a bit (not so tender
and delicious) and has birds around who eat aphids, they'll be a lot
less of a problem.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Ladybirds
 

The message
from MissJuggs contains these words:

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 22:22:29 +0100, Troy wrote:

Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

I've had a fair few already - I thought that they may have been
brought by the plethora of leaves floating around from last autumn and
also the infestations of insecty things brought by last summer's heat.

I was thinking just the same thing while weeding the other
day..ladybirds everywhere.

Janet (Isle of Arran)

Ladybirds
 

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 12:26:25 +0100, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

~The message
~from MissJuggs contains these words:
~
~ On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 22:22:29 +0100, Troy wrote:
~
~ Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
~ are they just in my garden :-)
~
~ I've had a fair few already - I thought that they may have been
~ brought by the plethora of leaves floating around from last autumn and
~ also the infestations of insecty things brought by last summer's heat.
~
~ I was thinking just the same thing while weeding the other
~day..ladybirds everywhere.
~
We all remarked on it at the allotments last week. You could barely
step anywhere without risking stepping on one - and they were all the
big seven-spot ones! I haven't seen one of the tiny two-spots for some
time.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Ladybirds
 

In article , Janet Baraclough.
.. writes
The message
from MissJuggs contains these words:

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 22:22:29 +0100, Troy wrote:

Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

I've had a fair few already - I thought that they may have been
brought by the plethora of leaves floating around from last autumn and
also the infestations of insecty things brought by last summer's heat.

I was thinking just the same thing while weeding the other
day..ladybirds everywhere.

I've got one in my garden too ;-)
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Ladybirds
 

The message
from Troy contains these words:

Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

I've been tipping them out of the house by the bucket^H^H^H^H^mustn't
exaggerate - yes, lots of them here in South Norfolk.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Ladybirds
 

The message
from Kevin Groves contains these words:
Troy wrote:
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed
this or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

Quite a few. Also the biggest one I've ever seen about half the size of
my little finger nail.

Brown with white-bordered black spots?

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Ladybirds
 

The message
from "Tumbleweed" contains these words:
"Troy" wrote in message
...
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this
or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).

No (Reading)

Well, if you're reading, you wouldn't notice them innit.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Ladybirds
 

How I envy you! I've gardened all my life and don't remember ever seeing
more than one at a time~~and then only briefly. Hardly enough time to say
"Ladybird, ladybird fly away....[forgot the rest]". I have loved them since
being in nappies with a tender nanny! It was the first rhyme she taught me~
and have now forgotten!! The second one she taught me was "Flies are a
nuisance, flies are a pest... etc" and never realised it was slightly rude
till my wife stopped me passing it on!!
Interestingly the Americans call them 'Ladybugs' and their gardening
group was complaining [last Autumn] that they were having to sweep them up
into buckets there were so many ~~in doors too..Though I'm only 90% sure
it's the same insect.
Best Wishes Brian
"Troy" wrote in message
...
Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed this
or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).
--
Regards,

Troy the Black Lab.

Ladybirds
 

Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:197501

Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message
from Kevin Groves contains these words:

Troy wrote:

Never seen so many before - they're everywhere. Anyone else noticed
this or
are they just in my garden :-)

(North East Lincolnshire).


Quite a few. Also the biggest one I've ever seen about half the size of
my little finger nail.


Brown with white-bordered black spots?

No, it was a large red one with white spots.

Kev,

Ladybirds
 

The message
from Kevin Groves contains these words:
Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:
The message
from Kevin Groves contains these words:


Quite a few. Also the biggest one I've ever seen about half the size of
my little finger nail.


Brown with white-bordered black spots?

No, it was a large red one with white spots.

Not seen one of those, but there are completely red varieties of the
brown one, and totally black ones. (Anatis ocellata)

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Ladybirds
 

Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:


Not seen one of those, but there are completely red varieties of the
brown one, and totally black ones. (Anatis ocellata)


I've only seen the black ones on rare occasions. Perhaps less than half
a dozen times ever.

Kev,

"mike" wrote in message
...
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4 log end
with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered, high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste putting
this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these questions,
I'd
be interested to see them !

thanks
mike


I have a feeling that these things are made to provide a safe place for
them to hibernate in so it wouldn't be used until next winter. Not sure
where to site it though.. perhaps you could google fo an answer. Sorry I
cannot be more helpful.

In article , w.g.s.hamm
writes

"mike" wrote in message
...
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4 log end
with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered, high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste putting
this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these questions,
I'd
be interested to see them !

thanks
mike


I have a feeling that these things are made to provide a safe place for
them to hibernate in so it wouldn't be used until next winter. Not sure
where to site it though.. perhaps you could google fo an answer. Sorry I
cannot be more helpful.

Try the CJ Birdfoods site - I think they sell them, and the site is
usually quite informative.


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

mike wrote:
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4
log end with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered,
high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste
putting this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these
questions, I'd be interested to see them !

Think like a ladybird. ;-)
It's cold and miserable. Where can I shelter?
Not in an exposed place.
Out of the wind. Out of the rain.
And preferably with a southern aspect.

And don't be surprised when you take it down to see if they like it
and find the inside empty and all the bugs hiding round the back
between their 'house' and the nice warm brick wall.
:-))

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 08.03.2005

mike wrote:
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4
log end with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered,
high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste
putting this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these
questions, I'd be interested to see them !

thanks
mike

I can't help you, Mike, but whilst we're on the topic of encouraging useful
insects, could I ask you to consider purchasing a bumble bee box to go with
it (they're not that expensive)? My grandfather bought three years ago and
it's been occupied ever since. We have lost nearly 50% of the species we had
in this country (I can't remember how many there were to begin with) and, of
the remainder, nearly half are in serious trouble.

I'm not advertising, and I didn't mean to hijack your topic, but I've been
meaning to mention this for a while, just never found the opportunity.

--
In memory of MS MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

mike wrote in message
...
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4 log end
with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered, high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste putting
this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these questions,
I'd
be interested to see them !

thanks
mike


Hi Mike,
Try this site http://www.growingsuccess.org.uk/

Spider

Sadly I haven't seen a ladybird up here (glasgow) for yonks. When I was a nipper my dad used to pay me to collect them by the jarful from waste ground and put them on his roses. I have seen one gigantic bumble bee struggling about in the garden though, out a bit early I think.

I've been tempted to buy some ladybirds, but I have a vision of me standing in the garden shaking my fist as they blithely fly straight off the roses and head south where it's warmer!

In article , Miss
Perspicacia Tick writes

I can't help you, Mike, but whilst we're on the topic of encouraging useful
insects, could I ask you to consider purchasing a bumble bee box to go with
it (they're not that expensive)? My grandfather bought three years ago and
it's been occupied ever since. We have lost nearly 50% of the species we had
in this country (I can't remember how many there were to begin with) and, of
the remainder, nearly half are in serious trouble.

Why are they in trouble? Is it because of lack of nesting places? I
think that's the reason behind the decline of some of the bees that
burrow into dry bare earthy places. But if it's for some other reason
that they're declining, a bumble bee box isn't necessarily going to
help, although encouraging them to your own garden rather than somewhere
else is always nice :-)

Not trying to be discouraging, just asking as it's something I don't
know much about.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Also don't be surprised that all sorts of other insects will use the
ladybird box. I've had mine for almost two years and have seen all
kinds of insects in there but no ladybirds - yet!

Glenda



On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:07:55 -0000, "ned"
tippy-typed:

mike wrote:
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4
log end with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered,
high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste
putting this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these
questions, I'd be interested to see them !

Think like a ladybird. ;-)
It's cold and miserable. Where can I shelter?
Not in an exposed place.
Out of the wind. Out of the rain.
And preferably with a southern aspect.

And don't be surprised when you take it down to see if they like it
and find the inside empty and all the bugs hiding round the back
between their 'house' and the nice warm brick wall.
:-))

--
10 Years! Coronation Street Weekly Updates for th'Internet
http://www.corrieweeklyupdates.btinternet.co.uk

Kay wrote in message
...
In article , Miss
Perspicacia Tick writes

I can't help you, Mike, but whilst we're on the topic of encouraging
useful
insects, could I ask you to consider purchasing a bumble bee box to go
with
it (they're not that expensive)? My grandfather bought three years ago
and
it's been occupied ever since. We have lost nearly 50% of the species we
had
in this country (I can't remember how many there were to begin with) and,
of
the remainder, nearly half are in serious trouble.

Why are they in trouble? Is it because of lack of nesting places? I
think that's the reason behind the decline of some of the bees that
burrow into dry bare earthy places. But if it's for some other reason
that they're declining, a bumble bee box isn't necessarily going to
help, although encouraging them to your own garden rather than somewhere
else is always nice :-)

Not trying to be discouraging, just asking as it's something I don't
know much about.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Hi Kay,

I don't know the whole story, but there is certainly a foreign, and larger,
ladybird attacking ours. Have a google for the DEFRA website as I believe
this bug is reportable.
Also, there are still a lot of gardeners and farmers out there who are
intent on spraying.

Spider

"Kay" wrote in message
...

Sine we are on ladybirds, you are talking about the harlequin ladybird,
introduced to US for pest control and now out of control (when will we
ever learn?) - see

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/default.htm
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"


Amazing, I thought that a ladybird was a ladybird until I read the threads
here and also the Times yesterday where it has made the front page! The
harlequin ladybird aparently originated from Asia but after introduction to
the US and contintental Europe for pest control is now the most common type
there! According to the Times they are slightly larger than most of our
variants and have a white plate just behind the head with a large black
marking in the shape of the letter M. Unfortunately there are a few
harlequin coloured variants which don't fit in with this id! See the link
referred to by Kay. Here in my garden in SEast Scotland I have noticed a few
ladybirds starting to stir again, but now armed with my new knowledge I will
be checking them over carefully!
Anybody sighted them further up the country, yet?

regards,

David

David writes
Amazing, I thought that a ladybird was a ladybird until I read the threads
here and also the Times yesterday where it has made the front page! The
harlequin ladybird aparently originated from Asia but after introduction to
the US and contintental Europe for pest control is now the most common type
there! According to the Times they are slightly larger than most of our
variants and have a white plate just behind the head with a large black
marking in the shape of the letter M. Unfortunately there are a few
harlequin coloured variants which don't fit in with this id! See the link
referred to by Kay. Here in my garden in SEast Scotland I have noticed a few
ladybirds starting to stir again, but now armed with my new knowledge I will
be checking them over carefully!
Anybody sighted them further up the country, yet?

Saw my first one today, seven spot with quite dark red, in the growing
tip of an aucuba, but only the one.
--
David
Ist of the chilterns on Herts/Beds/Cambs borders

There are ladybirds about now

"mike" wrote in message
...
I've been given a 'ladybird house' for the garden (basically a 1/4 log end
with a lot of holes in it)

What is the best sort of location for it - exposed/sheltered, high/low ?

It came with some 'ladybird food'! - I presume it would be a waste putting
this out until later in the year ?

and if you know any more appropriate places for asking these questions,
I'd
be interested to see them !

thanks
mike

In article , Kay
writes
In article , Miss
Perspicacia Tick writes

I can't help you, Mike, but whilst we're on the topic of encouraging useful
insects, could I ask you to consider purchasing a bumble bee box to go with
it (they're not that expensive)? My grandfather bought three years ago and
it's been occupied ever since. We have lost nearly 50% of the species we had
in this country (I can't remember how many there were to begin with) and, of
the remainder, nearly half are in serious trouble.

Why are they in trouble? Is it because of lack of nesting places? I
think that's the reason behind the decline of some of the bees that
burrow into dry bare earthy places. But if it's for some other reason
that they're declining, a bumble bee box isn't necessarily going to
help, although encouraging them to your own garden rather than somewhere
else is always nice :-)

Think I've answered my own question:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/...mblebees.shtml

Seems to be suggesting that it's foodstuffs that are the problem -we
need to plant more buddleias, lavender, rosemary, heather, honeysuckle,
cornflower and foxglove.

Also says that bumblebees only use the same nest for a single year,
which suggests buying bumblebee boxes might get a tad expensive ;-)
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Kay wrote:

Seems to be suggesting that it's foodstuffs that are the problem -we
need to plant more buddleias, lavender, rosemary, heather, honeysuckle,
cornflower and foxglove.

The garden I've just left we had planted with broom, lupins, foxgloves,
spirea, lavender, cornflowers, honeysuckle and a small buddleia. There
were always large numbers of bumblebees about, at least three distinct
species. They were particularly keen on the foxgloves and lupins.

New garden has a large buddleia, a honeysuckle, lavender, spirea and
large numbers of azaleas and rhododenrons. Plus a whole pile of stuff
we haven't identified yet. It's too early to tell yet what the bees
think of it.

On a slightly different topic, there are large numbers of robins,
blackbirds, and thrushes in the new garden. The robins in particular
are very tame and come worm-hunting within a couple of feet of me when
I'm digging. They don't mind me and they don't mind the thrushes but
they fly from my husband and from the blackbirds.

Rhiannon

Rhiannon Miller writes:

On a slightly different topic, there are large numbers of robins,
blackbirds, and thrushes in the new garden. The robins in particular
are very tame and come worm-hunting within a couple of feet of me when
I'm digging.

One of my robins is quite happy to come close when I'm out disturbing
soil. This can lead to problems when spreading a heap of compost over
a bed about 6ft away, you wouldn't think that something so small could
give such an effective glare. It's not as if anything else is going to
beat it to a tasty grub if it waits for the next shovel full to land,
standing in the landing zone with beak open is not the best plan...

Still more intelligent than the Cambridge Cable installers who appear
to have thought that laying the wire an inch below the surface and
diagonally across a patch of lawn was a good idea. Quite how I managed
to miss it in the past when I was spiking the moss patch I don't know.

Anthony