Juli Lawrence – Rakish Gardening

June 18th, 2008

I have a lot of different butterfly weeds in my back garden, and one species gets aphids that only feed on that, and on oleander. They’re yellow or orange, and really not a big deal. You can swipe them off with your fingers and squoosh them, or blast them off with a spray of water. Often, they don’t return.

But who likes aphids? Why, the ladybugs do! So I was pondering whether or not to bother with getting rid of some of the aphids and I saw a ladybug having a feast. It really made me feel like my organic gardening had come full circle. One of the goals is to plant things that attract beneficial insects, who then feed on insects and larvae that can damage your plants.

It’s one thing to plant all of these things, and see the beneficials fluttering around, but to actually see one at work, doing what you wanted her to do? It was so exciting – I was witnessing the whole plan in action. Letting Mother Nature keep things in balance. Then I saw a baby ladybug, probably just beyond the larval stage. Ladybug larvae are freaky looking, like colorful tiny alligators.

So for now, unless they really get out of control, I’ve decided to let the aphids be. They don’t bother any other plant, and they’ve never caused any damage on the butterfly weed. To be honest, I think the clusters of them are kind of pretty. (Until you zoom in and see those freaky little black legs.)

• Phil Hendrie and organic farming/gardening
• Aphids at the nursery!
• Squirrels eating the tomatoes!

Tags: aphids, beneficial insects
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