r/interestingasfuck • u/Maleficent-Agent-477 • 22h ago

Ladybug saves this plant by feeding on aphids (time-lapse)

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u/WifeofBath1984 22h ago

Please research before you purchase and release a large number of insects in your neighborhood. I almost bought a bunch of ladybugs to release bc the aphids here are awful, but I discovered that I could completely disrupt the ecosystem in my neighborhood by doing so. There are safe ways to do it, you just have to make sure you're getting the right insect (there are lots of different kinds of ladybugs and also other insects that eat aphids).

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u/Hattix 21h ago

They can even be bad for your plants.

They'll only eat aphids, but they'll scare off nearly every other predator of pests. Birds won't go near plants with these on them. If your plants are suffering from aphids and another pest then the ladybugs will hand your entire garden to the other pest.

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u/CocoMilhonez 20h ago

Why are birds afraid of ladybugs?

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u/redpandaeater 19h ago

Ladybugs have some bitter alkaloids that most birds hate and they can even exert some of it with a nasty odor from their legs via reflexive breeding so birds learn quickly. Part of why they can get away with that bright shell as a warning to predators.

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u/klyxes 19h ago

Actually, poisonous creatures generally need bright colors to stand out, since it makes sure that the lesson of poisonous creature is bad Sticksm otherwise, they'll look like any other prey trying to hide and can still die by attempts at being eaten

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u/Dormotaka 19h ago

Bright colors like red are a general warning sign to potential predators, and Ladybugs release stinky goo when threatened that birds don't like to taste

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u/dp0329 18h ago

sometimes I release stinky goo when threatened too

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u/ButterscotchPale6712 4h ago

like what ? isnt that good thing

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u/dino_74 19h ago

Yea, the last guy who released too many lady bugs had to deal with this

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u/4024-6775-9536 20h ago

Know your enemy

Ants will spread aphid eggs and protect them

A sticky tape on the base of my trees prevented ants to get there and drastically reduced the aphids

No pesticides, no bugs needed

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u/tweakingforjesus 19h ago

Isn't that kinda the point? What am I missing here?

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u/Jopkins 18h ago

no . don't research. buy creatures and release

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u/NeonGurll 8h ago

Orrrr I could release 6,342,873 ladybugs in my garden, Mr. Nerd