The Scarlet Hunter
Our apple tree is covered in aphids this year. Last year was pretty bad and we were only able to harvest a fraction of the apples we usually can and this year I’ve barely seen a flower on it, so it was time to take some action.
Clearly there were not enough blue tits and robins frequenting the tree to keep them under control. Washing up liquid and water just wasn’t doing ithe job and there was no way I wanted to use insecticides given the utter dearth of insects this year. Enter Adalia bipunctata, the 2-spot ladybird:
We have welcome 25 adult 2-spot ladybirds and 50 larvae to the garden and we are very much hoping they will significantly deplete the aphids so so that the tree stands a chance.
If you wish to invite ladybirds into the garden as we have, do make sure they are native ladybirds and not harlequins which are extremely invasive. I purchased my ladybirds, larvae and house, from The Green Gardener . It’s not cheap pest control, however we were provided with a good hour of fun releasing the ladybirds, larvae and installing the house. My daughter has even started a ladybird diary to log the progress of our new residents.
I hope we’ve managed to give them a good start and we’ve certainly provided them with a hearty feast, so here’s to the humble ladybird.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this bonus midweek post and a peek behind the scenes at our little apple tree. I’ll be back later in the week with a book review so for now I will leave you with that wonderful little poem by Mother Goose that many of us chanted to our red, spotted friends as children. Merry Solstice one and all!
Ladybird, ladybird,
Fly away home,
Your house is on fire
And your children all gone;
All except one
And that's little Ann,
And she has crept under
The warming pan.
