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Hi Randy & All,
The Asian lady beetle is just another lady beetle with positive and
perhaps some negative, features. They nicely illustrate a general
biological rule; organisms tend to generate an environment in which they
die or become less successful. It has been many decades since I looked
at this but, drawing on memory, one of the reasons is is successful
here, apart from relatively recent arrival, is because it feeds not only
on aphids but on pollen; more on pollen than native species as I
recall. Being dependent upon Aphids and related is a risky life style.
In the wild, aphids go from highs which coat my woodpiles with syrup to
zero in one year. And increased spraying of ornamentals with soap etc.
has shrunk that food source.
The other lady beetles were in decline before the Asian was brought
here. Their decline was likely related to the increased use of
insecticides after WWII. And, to add to the confusion, I have read
"scientific" papers which documented the overwhelming of native species
by Asian lady beetle. We have not heard from Roland for a long time but
his advocacy of crap detecters is timeless.
Going back many decades Randy I recall suggesting, in view of your
strong feeling against introduced species, that you should spearhead the
eradication of the Sable Island Pony; clearly not native and thus fair
game. With sea level rising and Sable Island shrinking it is only a
matter of time before we will be stuck with a bill to build a seawall
around Sable Island or a horse hotel with elevators and grassed
balconies. Or perhaps move them to the Halifax Commons.
I have an insect friendly lot but rarely have Lady Bugs indoors. On
average about two wintering in the attic with >50 flies, sometimes a mud
wasp or a few leaf footed Bugs. So perhaps a larger compost pile is the
answer.
On the subject of Lady Bugs it is fun raise the Adult from a pupa.
Usually when they emerge the elytra, head and pronotum are bland. Colors
and the various maculae develop over a period of several hours.
Life really would be Peaches and Cream if being bitten by a lady
bug or being hit by a drop of rain was the worst hazard.
Yt, DW, Kentville
On 4/18/2020 12:23 PM, Randy Lauff wrote:
> Ladybug = Lady Beetle = Ladybird Beetle.
>
> Do not release the Asian Beetle (a type of Ladybird). Kill them.
>
> The second biggest cause of decline in native species after habitat
> loss is introduced species.
>
> If you want, save all the Asian Beetles in a jar in the freezer. I can
> use them for teaching my entomology lab here at StFX. Contact me at
> rlauff@stfx.ca <mailto:rlauff@stfx.ca> if you're interested.
>
> Randy
>
> On Sat., Apr. 18, 2020, 10:03 a.m. Donna Crossland,
> <dcrossland@eastlink.ca <mailto:dcrossland@eastlink.ca>> wrote:
>
> It's great to distinguish these beetles. It is interesting to
> note that the Asian beetle; the latest little pest in our houses,
> is the result of an agricultural biocontrol agent gone wrong. Now
> it's chosen to live with us. I am fairly unappreciative of it.
>
> I wonder, however, since it preys on aphids and scale, whether it
> might go after beech scale, performing some redeeming activity
> other than climbing on my windows and walls. Our beech trees need
> all the help they can get, now that they also have to deal with
> beech leaf-mining weevil. Keep an eye out for browning beech
> leaves, starting from the leaf tips, this spring, a sign of its
> arrival.
>
> Donna Crossland
>
> On 2020-04-18 8:46 a.m., Suzanne Townsend wrote:
>> Hi David,
>> Yes but there is an imposter in our midst.
>>
>> https://www.diffen.com/difference/Asian_Lady_Beetle_vs_Ladybug
>>
>> Best!
>> Suzanne
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 18, 2020 at 8:43 AM David Webster <dwebster@glinx.com
>> <mailto:dwebster@glinx.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> There seems to be some confusion here. Lady Bug is a
>> common name for beetles of the family Coccinellidae. They
>> often spend winters in attics, under shingles, in sheds, and
>> in natural cavities; shelter. They will manage fine now if
>> you have a compost pile, woody debris etc in which they can
>> shelter.
>>
>> YT, DW, Kentville
>>
>> On 4/18/2020 7:41 AM, Suzanne Townsend wrote:
>>> Are you sure they are lady bugs and not lady beetles?
>>>
>>> https://www.hunker.com/12273930/how-to-get-rid-of-those-bugs-that-look-like-lady-bugs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Apr 18, 2020 at 7:27 AM Gerald
>>> <naturens@zdoit.airpost.net
>>> <mailto:naturens@zdoit.airpost.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I counted 7 lady bugs inside our home on a south facing
>>> window this
>>> morning. When can I take them outside?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Gerald
>>>
>
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<p>Hi Randy & All,</p>
<p> The Asian lady beetle is just another lady beetle with
positive and perhaps some negative, features. They nicely
illustrate a general biological rule; organisms tend to generate
an environment in which they die or become less successful. It has
been many decades since I looked at this but, drawing o