One of our most beneficial garden bugs are here at the Garden in increasing numbers. They are being attracted by Aphids and other soft body insects that are on our remaining winter and some early spring plants.
I’ve left some Dill plants to seed in a growing bed, which also attracted Aphids, which attracted to Lady Bugs to eat them, breed & produce their young to finish the job.
Look closely for their clusters of pale or bright Yellow Eggs on your fall/ winter plants or any leaves being harvested or removed. Adults lay eggs where they find soft-bodied eggs or active insects for their young to feed on ( including kales, chard’s, parsley, dill, fennel).
The pupa are small, brown & often seen on the sides of concrete bed blocks. The larvae look like Tiny Alligators, who voraciously consume your destructive soft-bodied insects in your garden.
Should you discover the eggs or any of their life stages, please try not to disturb, or just resettle them back into your growing bed to finish their life cycle ( as will happen with thIs Kale leaf). It’s amazing how quickly they can wipe out an Aphid colony!
The Winter Dill is also attracting the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Those of you with remaining Dill & Fennel will surely see them also! Enjoy them, then watch for their Chrysalis which can appear anywhere in or near your garden bed, with the adult Butterfly emerging thereafter.