Are you seeing these little guys in your garden?

Are you seeing these bugs in your garden? The ones that look like tiny alligators....

They are ladybug larva

I was just  out in my garden getting a head start on watering. It's going to be in the 90's today where I live (aaahhhhhh!) so I wanted to give a few of my new transplants a bit of extra water before the heat comes on. 

Anyway, I was very excited to see lots of ladybug larvae cruising around my plants. Have you seen any in your garden yet?

The photo I have attached above is not from this morning, since I didn't have my  camera/phone with me. This is actually a photo I took years ago, where I discovered this mass attack of ladybug larva on a pest insect, which is hard to identify exactly. I rarely see the larva all black in color. Often they will have a bit of orange or red markings along their sides, as the ones I saw today had. I invite you to search images of ladybug larva to see the differences.

It is exciting for me to see these friends because not only are they eating the bad bugs that I don't want, this is also a sign of a healthy, balanced garden. Seeing them always brings a smile to my face and a swell of encouragement to my heart. I love pointing these little guys since many people are unaware of what they are. I can't tell you how many times, each spring season, someone brings me a bunch of ladybug larva in a plastic baggie, freaked out, explaining how these bugs are all over their garden eating their plants! As I share with each person that they are actually the good bugs eating the pest bugs that are eating their plants, I begin to see their awareness grow, a shift happens. The 'aha' moment occurs as they ask for their baggie of bugs back so that they can return them to the garden to continue their important work. I totally get it. Bugs look strange and we were taught that bugs are bad, must kill! I always welcome the opportunity to introduce folks to the world of beneficial insects. Knowing who they are sure helps us all to understand that we have allies working for us, right in our own gardens. Isn't that remarkable!

Check out these two brochures from the Our Water Our World site:
1) The 10 Most Wanted and 2) the Healthy Gardens fact sheet. Each offer a list of plants that attract beneficial insects to your garden, as well as tips for keeping them around. I hope you enjoy them. 
: )

Stay cool, stay healthy, be well, and enjoy your weekend!
Happy gardening,

~Suzanne