Posts Tagged: larvae

They Are Not Your Enemy

They're not exactly cute, cuddly little critters. Some folks say they look like miniature alligators or "ugly, spiky orange-and-black buggy thingies." Many a novice gardener has glanced at them, smashed them, and yelled "Gotcha! Now stay outta my...

Dorsal view of the larva of a lady beetle, aka ladybug, on a strawberry plant in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dorsal view of the larva of a lady beetle, aka ladybug, on a strawberry plant in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Side view of a lady beetle (aka ladybug) larva. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Side view of a lady beetle (aka ladybug) larva. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

You called? Yes, those are my offspring. A lady beetle peers at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

You called? Yes, those are my offspring. A lady beetle peers at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Myfany Turpin: Virtual Seminar on 'Grub's Up

Grub's up!  Grub? Food? Yes, think specifically of insect larvae. Myfany Turpin of the University of Sydney will speak on "Grub's Up! The Category of Edible Insect Larvae in Central Australian Aboriginal Languages" at the UC Davis...

These are the larvae that Myfany Turpin of the University of Sydney will discuss at a virtual seminar to the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

These are the larvae that Myfany Turpin of the University of Sydney will discuss at a virtual seminar to the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Kill That 'Alligator-Looking" Critter? No, Don't!

"Yecch! What's that ugly bug? Kill it!" Have you ever heard anyone say that when they see the larva of a lady beetle (aka ladybug, family Coccinellidae)? Unfortunately, it's quite common among non-gardeners and non-insect enthusiasts. The larvae of...

An adult lady beetle (aka ladybug) and a larva. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An adult lady beetle (aka ladybug) and a larva. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a larva of a lady beetle (aka ladybug). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a larva of a lady beetle (aka ladybug). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Larva of a lady beetle (aka ladybug) eating an aphid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Larva of a lady beetle (aka ladybug) eating an aphid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Can Lady Beetle Larvae Eat Aphids?

Can the larvae of lady beetles (aka ladybugs) eat aphids? Yes, they can.  And yes, they do. We spotted some lady beetle larvae on our yellow roses today and guess what they were doing? Right, eating aphids. Eating lots of aphids. The larvae look...

Close-up of a lady beetle larva eating an aphid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a lady beetle larva eating an aphid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From a distance, you can see the ladybug larva and a lot of aphids on this yellow rose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From a distance, you can see the ladybug larva and a lot of aphids on this yellow rose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A multicolored Asian lady beetle prowls a yellow rose bush in search of aphids. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A multicolored Asian lady beetle prowls a yellow rose bush in search of aphids. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The lady beetle lays her tiny eggs in clusters beneath a leaf. These are probably the eggs of a multicolored Asian lady beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The lady beetle lays her tiny eggs in clusters beneath a leaf. These are probably the eggs of a multicolored Asian lady beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Have a Few Crickets With Your Kölsch

These things go together: Ham and eggs, macaroni and cheese, and beer and bugs. Beer and bugs? Definitely! Haven't you ever had a few crickets with your Kölsch? Well, you will if you attend the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science's...

Would you eat honey bee larvae? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Would you eat honey bee larvae? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wax moth larvae: good source of protein? And throw in a few small hive beetles for good measure? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wax moth larvae: good source of protein? And throw in a few small hive beetles for good measure?(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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