Text
Junk Bug - Green Lacewing (Chrysopidae)
These little critters look like wobbling bits of debris, but they’re actually called junk bugs or also known as trash bugs, the larval stage of the Green lacewing.
They may look innocent with their tiny backpacks of treasures but they can be quite the cold blooded killers. If you look closely on their back, it isn’t just bits of leaves or dirt you’re seeing….it’s dead bodies!
The junk bug is a voracious predator of aphids, thrips, and mites. With their huge appetite for these pests, they are a huge benefit for gardeners and farmers.
They are covered in spikey hairs and have a large pair of mandibles. Their jaws are large and hollow so they can clamp onto their prey and inject digestive enzymes that liquify the preys organs. The junk bug will then suck out the dissolved juices like a slurpy. Once they are finished with their meal the larvae will adorn their backs with the carcasses of their victims. Also along their travels the junk bug will pick up random skins of aphids, other plant pieces or lichen. They become so unrecognizable that biologist believe this is done as a camoflauge from predators or even to fool some species of ants that like to guard aphids from predators as they want to collect their honeydew secreations for themselves.
In fact, there are instances where biologists took off the little pile of junk from the larvae and when they attempted to enter a group of aphids they were easily detected and attacked. Now, with the others who were so fully disguised in their junk, they used stealth and patience to infiltrate the group of aphids right from under the ants eyes and retreat undetected with its meal.
After about 2 to 3 weeks of feeding the lacewing larva will prepare for pupation by spinning a cocoon. Some species even do so by using the skins of their victims! Hoping to protect itself during metamorphosis.
10 days later an adult lacewing will emerge and usually live for 2 months as mainly solitary insect besides during courtship. Adults will feed on nectar and pollen, but some do feed on aphids as well. Females will lay several hundred eggs in her life time. They make stalks on the underside of leaves by touching their abdomen to it and pulling back making a thread that hardens immediately, and then place a little egg on top of each stalk.
Fun fact: Biologists thought for years that the eggs were fruiting bodies of a fungus they called Ascophora ovalis. The true nature of these eggs were discovered in 1737 by Rene Reaumer, a French physicist, biologist, and inventor.
Text
Red and yellow and all their buggy buddies and animal enemies are all ready to answer your ask questions, this is for ask larva QnA put your question in the inbox and they will answer
Text
ask larva is now open for asking, ask any character and get to know their personalites, so ask away
Text
Some older drawings I reworked!
Larva, Maze Larva, and Spirit, and O'aka XXIII from Final Fantasy series
Text
Ladybugs have been acquired from one of my favorite garden centers. Time for the aphid’s reign of terror over the plants end.
[[MORE]]A few tips that have helped me with releasing ladybugs over the years.
First, make note of where the aphids are. You’ll want to release the ladybugs in groups as close as possible to those areas.
Second, wait until as close to sunset as possible. Ladybugs get slow and tired when the weather cools down, so releasing them just before sunset gives them time to start doing their jobs (eating as many aphids as possible) and keep them in your yard for longer. They’ll eat for a bit, settle down for the night, then wake up for a hearty breakfast feast.
Third, water your yard and plants. You don’t have to soak the leaves, but getting the ground a bit moist helps the ladybugs want to stay closer longer.
Fourth, release the hounds. I tend to put the lids on or near the heaviest infestation and then sprinkle or move by hand groups from the container around other spots. If you release them all in one spot there’s a higher chance of more leaving immediately. Plus, there’s probably aphids hiding that you haven’t found but the ladybugs will.
An additional note. Don’t worry if they mostly leave after a few days. They won’t stick around forever, especially as the food source starts to thin out. They will however spread throughout the neighborhood and help control aphids in other places, which will benefit you as well. And keep a lookout for larva. They’ll also eat a ton of aphids and will grow into ladybugs over time.
Just a teeny tiny friend working hard every day.
Another beneficial bug for yards are praying mantis. You can usually find egg sacks at many of the places that sell ladybugs. We released two egg sacks a few years ago and still find several praying mantis each summer hanging out in the citrus trees.
Get eaten nuisance bugs.
Text
So, I extracted this baby from water for better shots and crawled into his home on it’s own without any help! very independent baby
Text
still havent pupated….. its really embarassing to still be a larva at age 24 but what can i really do? all the other girls my age have big beautiful wings and i just dont think i can ever be like them
Text
ALTI’ve decided to do Eternity Larva, as its one of my fav of the more recent toohoos (one with a really cool theme too), and I feel she doesn’t get enough love~
Text
I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs I am bugs
