I lived in Italy for a number of years and dreaded having to get the washing in after it had blown dry in the hot sun, as it was invariably full of these creatures, which are called "puzzola" which means skunk. The word "puzza" means stench or stink! This is due to the pungent smell they emit when being squashed. Also, if they are brought indoors, they loudly buzz around, making clicking noisies as they barge into windows. I agree they are pretty to look at, though.
It's the lily bug that I have problems with, I grow Stargazer lillies in my garden and a couple of others but last summer suddenly out of nowhere came the dreaded red beetle munching on the leaves!! How do I keep them away please?
i was watching gardeners world the night before last on uktv gardens i actually caught monty don at the end of the show saying if you find any of these bugs destroy them and thats good enough advise for me, on the same kind of note what does everyone think about the different color lady bird not the native 2 spotted red n black one well i think thats the native one not these black n yellow ones and opposite black with red spots
Hold hard on the Ladybirds! There are lots of different native ones, 7 spot red & black, 16 spot yellow & black & yes, the black with red spots to name but a few. I hate the lily bugs, too. They also go for fritilarias early in the year. Watch out for "droppings" on the leaves - these are the larvae which cover themselves in their own excrement! Pick them off & squash them!!
isnt there a lady bird thats not a native that eats other ladybirds , i love the lady bird it keeps the aphids off my roses but dont like the cannibal one
I hate the sheild bug, I have been bitten twice which left me with a lump that itched for weeks. Also saw one on the new shoots of a rose bush 2 days later the new shoots had wilted,on inspection each stem looked like it had had its sap sucked. So I for one will be squashing them.
Reply to Michael The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axiridis, is a recent arrival in the UK. A native of Asia, it is large and voracious and is known to out-compete and even eat other ladybirds, but it's precise effect in the UK has not yet been determined. Have a look at a previous entry to this blog: http://blog.gardenersworld.com/2008/02/06/rj-harlequin-ladybird-06022008/
Reply to Debbie. Sorry to hear of your bug bite. This is very unusual for a plant-feeder. It does not indicate a noxious pest though. In 1976 (I remember it well), huge numbers of ladybirds took to the air in search of prey. They have a habit of biting whatever leaf they land on to detect whether it is the sort of host that aphids might be eating, and also, perhaps to detect alarm chemicals released by a plant under aphid attack. When they landed on human skin, they would bite too and there were endless reports of vicious attack ladybirds in the press. Ladybirds have sharp biting mouthparts and can give quite a surprising nip.
Here in the Midlands we are seeing more shield bugs every year, though sadly not too many of the very useful ladybirds. The shield bugs are damaging my plants and I have found it necessary to destroy some of the worst offenders, but take care if you do squash one - the smell is very unpleasant. Do they have any natural predators?
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BETTALL.
The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axiridis, is a recent arrival in the UK. A native of Asia, it is large and voracious and is known to out-compete and even eat other ladybirds, but it's precise effect in the UK has not yet been determined.
Have a look at a previous entry to this blog:
http://blog.gardenersworld.com/2008/02/06/rj-harlequin-ladybird-06022008/
Sorry to hear of your bug bite. This is very unusual for a plant-feeder. It does not indicate a noxious pest though. In 1976 (I remember it well), huge numbers of ladybirds took to the air in search of prey. They have a habit of biting whatever leaf they land on to detect whether it is the sort of host that aphids might be eating, and also, perhaps to detect alarm chemicals released by a plant under aphid attack. When they landed on human skin, they would bite too and there were endless reports of vicious attack ladybirds in the press. Ladybirds have sharp biting mouthparts and can give quite a surprising nip.
The shield bugs are damaging my plants and I have found it necessary to destroy some of the worst offenders, but take care if you do squash one - the smell is very unpleasant.
Do they have any natural predators?