h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have taken three photos of some bugs on my apple tree leaves. Anyone got any bright what they might be?

Ummm.... Link ??

Might have been a good idea to provide a link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11305258@N08/

I dunno, but they look evil.

RF

Very strange

One looks like it could be a caterpillar, and the other two *do* look very much like ladybirds with different markings.

Hopefully we will have an expert ing...

Look like some sort of beetle larvae to me. I'll look them up when I get home tonight.

Thanks Icy

Did someone want a bug expert?
I can tell you what they are. The first photo is the pupae of ladybirds. Once the larvea are ready, they change into a chrysalis. Which brings me to the second photo, which is a ladybird larvea. Look after them as they do so much good in the garden.

Thanks Venus I have lots of adults on the tree and they are of course most welcome. I did wonder if the others were 'harlequins' with the markings; but unlike you, I have no knowledge of them.

Nigel will now


if there's a lot, they could be bug'herd

You beat me to it, Venus.

Do you know the species? The 7-spot larva is a pale blue, so I'm guessing this may be another.

Google images seems to confirm they're harlequins. They're actually pests, aren't they?

More info and identification sheets on this site: http://www.ladybird-survey.org/ladybirds.aspx

Thanks for both your postings Icy followed your link and the larvae pic certainly seems like my pic. I'll await a response from Venus.

I don't know if they are generally a pest or just a pest to our native ladybird. They certainly seem to be in the right place as the apple tree in question is alive with aphids; being merrily milked by thousands of ants.

Hi Scorp, Icy.
I think 'pest' is'nt the right term to use. The harlequins are seen as a threat to our native ladybirds, their numbers alone and the fact that they compete for the same food. However, they are still collecting data and surveys to see if the harlequin being here will threaten the existance of some of our native species.The main problem with the harlequin is it's ability to turn to other food sources if aphids are scarce and being a carnivore, this can include native ladybird larvae and eggs. It's worth pointing out that some of our native ladybirds are specialist feeders. The kidney spot and heather ladybird feed on scale insects, while the fourteen spot also feeds on pollen, which may be of benefit to them as a species.
It's very difficult to tell a harlequin and native ladybird apart, so it will be impossible to erradicate the alien aphid munchers. From a gardeners point of view the harlequin does just a good a job with the aphids as our native species. From a personal perspecitve, i have both alien and native ladybirds in my garden and they seem to rub along together ok for now. You can send your sightings of harlequins to the link that Icy provided, it all helps to see how quick they are spreading and to what areas.

Thanks Venus - that's really interesting

I guess we don't want another grey squirrel situation.

It certainly was interesting Icy - thanks Venus, I'll keep monitoring and see what happens as and when they develop. Incidentally, I did fill in a survey yesterday. Many thanks both.<hug.

Scorp, you might like to take a look here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A29014850

I hope they are not Harlequins but they certainly look ugly enough. You could do that survey and send a photo in. I am assuming it is still running. If not, my apologies.

Websailor

Just checked the Survey site and the picture shown confirms it for me - they are harlequins!

Websailor

WS! As said previously, I completed the survey and uploaded the three pics and clicked the box that asked if I wanted confirmation as to what they were (still waiting). I followed the link to your article which was very worrying; but apart from their threat, Venus tells me they are still good for the garden as our native species. I was initially going to blast the apple tree with some soap suds; but there are native ladybirds in abundance, so I decided to leave well alone.

I well remember 1976 - SS and I were on holiday in Wales; having spent a few days with friends in Bristol on the way. We stopped on the approach lay-by to the Severn Bridge; and you would not believe the amount of ladybirds on the road and bridge paraphets. It was totally unbelievable. There were millions of them - you could not put your hands on any surface without touching one and it was the first time that I actually thought

Will keep watching