In 1888, the U.S. state of California introduced Australian ladybugs from Australia to successfully control the blowing cotton bugs on citrus, which once saved the citrus industry in California, and since then, ladybirds have become the "heroes" of pest biological control, opening the precedent of modern biological control.
The research of natural agricultural law research for many years has shown that the use of pest natural enemy prevention and control technology, the use of insect control methods, such as heterochromatic ladybirds, turtle ladybirds, aphids and other pests and diseases, such as fruit and vegetable aphids, whiteflies and other pests, has obvious effects. Let's get to know the "heroes" of this kind of pest control.
1. Are ladybugs beneficial?
The feeding habits of ladybirds can be divided into three main categories: predatory (carnivorous), plant-feeding and bacteriosynistic. Most ladybirds are predatory and feed on aphids, whiteflies, mites, mites, etc. For example, the common seven-star ladybird, turtle pattern ladybird and so on. Plant-feeding ladybirds are also "pests", and individual species such as eggplant twenty-eight star ladybirds, potato ladybirds and other solanaceous plants that eat eggplant and potatoes can sometimes cause serious harm. Few ladybugs can feed on the hyphae and spores of powdery mildew. Therefore, most ladybugs are beneficial to humans.
2, count the stars to identify ladybugs?
Because the stars (markings) on the back (elytra) of ladybirds are not fixed, this is not a stable distinguishing feature in the ladybird family. A completely differently patterned ladybird may be one species, and sometimes the markings are similar to different species. How do you identify an unpredictable ladybug?
3. Common ladybug identification
Seven-star ladybird: The stripes of the seven-star ladybird are relatively stable, the head is black, and there are 2 small spots. There are a total of 7 dark spots on the two elytra. (Agricultural Beneficial Insects)
Turtle ladybirds: Typical markings are turtle markings; some are enlarged, and the elytra wings are almost completely black; or the markings are reduced or even spotless. (Agricultural Beneficial Insects)
Heterochromatic ladybird: Variegated, some spotless, with a maximum of 19 spots, but at the end of its elytra there is a raised transverse ridge that looks like a small hillside. (Agricultural Beneficial Insects)
Eggplant 28 Star Ladybird: The surface of the elytra is hairy and non-reflective; there are 28 dark spots on the elytra. (Agricultural pest)
(NFS Natural Farming)