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

I know that I used to grow a herb that was good for repelling moths but I can't remember what it was called but it wasn't lavender.I'll take a look in my herb books when I can find them.I think my SO has bunged them up in the loft.Funny how many books I'm missing.

Incog.

Plenty of earwigs in my garden, but very few ladybirds. The roses have had very little green or black fly this year and as these are the ladybirds favoured food could it be connected?

Have also had quite a few stag beetles lurking in the grass cuttings.

Just south of Stockholm, Sweden: no ladybugs, no earwigs - and I was surprised to see a butterfly last week, and wondered why - realized I haven't seen any butterflies until now!

Would this have anything to do with the weather being so strange?

Not seen any ladybirds but plenty of black and yellow caterpillars in the hills around here and there was a slug in my kitchen last week! *shudders at the memory*

Not wanting to admit ignorance, I looked up the yellow and black caterpillar.

This is a very well set out page but I couldn't recognise a yellow and black caterpillar. Stripes lengthwise or crosswise?

http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/plate9.htm

Perhaps it was the first or the fourth picture on this page:

http://www.bostonuk.com/visitors/flora&fauna/moths.htm


Either way, the yellow and black caterpillar seems to be a moth when it grows up. Did you know that moths are the most poisonous creatures?

I had no idea they were poisonous! Not to humans though?

its bright yellow and black stripes around it's body - like really bright like it wants to tell people it's poisonous.

now you've got me curious too.

and what about that slug? it was green with yellow spots does that mean something?

I found it! It's number one on this plate: http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/plate29.htm

There are even some in the towns I spotted today.

Still yet to find out about the slug

LOL..I assumed from the title, that this was a forum in search of girlies, and I thought, well he**, does a Nyssabird count? Then of course, I realize you are actually speaking of leetle buggies. Would these be the same as our ladybugs? (little red cuties with spots?..should probably read the backlog more carefully ...

*hops around like a buggie* you know, come to think of it, I've not seen many either. But then again, I hibernate during the summer.

i still havent seen either ladybird or earwig and now i come to think of it i havent seen a stag beetle for years either

Hmmm, had to clear an aphid infestation in my garden this year. Seen plenty of Aphids, ladybirds and indeed earwigs.

In Brum they are still rife at least

Saw a few ladybirds months ago, but none since. Lots of moths, couple of crickets and the crane flies are begining. Not so many stag beetles outside, but then the local council seems to be actively discouraging them.

Ladybirds are alive and well in Cleethorpes, I even found one on the netting in my new bungalow which I carefully placed on a leaf outside.

I saw a stag beetle when I was pouring a boiling kettlefull on the ants in my drive, but I left it alone, as I don't see that many.
Theare invading!

Also the caterpillars are plentiful, which means more to come. They are the only things I don't mind eating my flowers.

and why have all the slugs and snails massacred my hostas but left the dandelions to thrive? y things... someone needs to tell them to change their eating habits!

Ladybirds were alive and well in South Lincolnshire last week... well they were until number one son started pointing to them. Unfortunately for the ladybirds he can't point without making rather heavy handed contact!

Apparently ladybirds will hibernate in the tops of bamboo canes, places upright, in a sheltered corner of the garden.

Next time I'm at the garden centre I shall get some.

Theres a catalogue which does things like that

[Unsuitable link removed by Moderator]

I intend getting some, when I finally have that garden!

Can't imagine not having a garden.

so now its unsuitable to include a catalogue which deals in fairtrade stock? Everytime I get back on this site, something happens to p##s me off. Fairtrade should be encouraged.

I'll just enter it into Google.

It must have been because it was a commercial site Kaz, does the catalogue have a page that's not commercial that you could link to?