Porch Pansy: Ladybugs Attack! Part 2

In Ladybugs Attack! Part 1, my roommate Andrew and I released a bag of them to help control an aphid infestation in his garden. That was successful and when I discovered aphids in Alan’s garden, on the honeysuckle and verbena, I knew what to do.

I spread the ladybugs throughout the garden and they went to work.

On the honeysuckle.

I spread them on every plant to broaden their territory. In the impatiens.

In the astilbe.

After spreading them throughout the garden I left the rest in the bag in the final pot, which contained the infested verbena.

Dinner time!

The red cordyline in this pot made a great launching pad.

And a great place for other business.

I’m not in Alan’s garden often, but do check on the progress of his garden. I was delightedly surprised when I found this ladybug larva on July 25, nearly 1 month later. My phone camera had trouble focusing on the critter.

There is a better picture of a ladybug larva at Savvy Housekeeping. It is described as a cross between an alligator and an accordion.

On a later visit I discovered this ladybug on the potato vine on Aug 11.

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Before I launched the ladybugs, I made some improvements to Alan’s garden. I had mentioned in Alan’s Front Yard June 26 there were some plants that needed replacing or removal.

I had planted two cala lilies with the astilbe, sometimes plants look better in threes, but they were yellowing.

In this case the astilbe is a showstopper on its own.

I also didn’t like the ‘Hot Lips’ salvia I had planted. Their position behind the tall shrubs and in between flushing of their red and white blooms they were hard to spot.