this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2024
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Science Memes

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submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 65 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Reposting my aphid hate

Having imported ladybugs into a greenhouse for the express purpose of exterminating aphids, I can tell you with certainty that they’re kinda dumb. A leaf completely coated with aphids will see 4 plucked and obliterated by mandibles, and 50 ignored, only to search for more distant prey. The buffet is right there, why are you searching for scraps beneath it?

But there’s nothing quite like seeing the little shits disappear into an organic shredder, clawing desperately, fruitlessly at survival. I fucking despise aphids.

[–] Allonzee 34 points 2 months ago

Counterpoint: the queen's pet aphid in A Bugs Life was fucking adorable.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 months ago

In the summer I walked by a hedge and found a ladybug larva. Brought her home and set her on my chilis. The next day all the aphids were gone from that area. Three larva had without a doubt feasted, but it seemed the rest of the aphids fled the scene.

Ladybugs are reckless, but their larva are walking killing machines.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago

I also am speciest against aphids. I wouldn't let my mom remove the 4" giant house spider she found yesterday because they keep my plants clean lol.

[–] RubberElectrons 23 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I discovered this the fuckin hard way, bought a container of ladybugs and distributed them along my various plants getting sapped by aphids. Next morning, only the goddamn aphids remained..

[–] Yokozuna 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Did you cool them before you released them? Lowering their body temperature helps keep them arou d and on your plants to take the little fuckers out.

[–] RubberElectrons 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Yeah, fridge for about 60 minutes. Didn't seem to help

[–] Yokozuna 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Unfortunate. Seems like you got a rowdy bunch lol. If I recall right when I unleashed them on an aphid infestation I had them in there for like 2-3 hours. Idk I'd that would make a difference or not. A lot of them did peace out pretty soon after I let them loose, but a handful stayed around for a few days.

[–] RubberElectrons 6 points 2 months ago

Just another day in the life of a ladybug rancher 😎

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You've got to do it at the right time of day too, can't remember when the wrong time is but if you release them then they all just fly away immediately!

[–] RubberElectrons 2 points 2 months ago

Ah sheesh. Notes for next time haha. Thanks guys

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago

When you have an all you can eat free buffet with infinite food, you can afford to be picky. Why would you eat from the pile of bugs all stressed out and popping on each other? I bet the lonely aphyd eating peacefully is much more tender and juicy.

[–] cybervseas 38 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've seen some epic battles in my vegetable garden between ladybugs going after the aphids and the ants defending them.

[–] deus 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I do not envy any insect going into battle against ants. Do the ladybugs even stand a chance?

[–] cybervseas 10 points 2 months ago

From what I saw, they usually end up backing off and looking for aphids that were less defended.

[–] explodIng_lIme 27 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Fuck aphids

[–] essteeyou 9 points 2 months ago

All my homies hate aphids.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

But they feed Ladybugs...

[–] TammyTobacco 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)

FYI everyone, importing ladybugs can be very harmful to the native population.

Ladybugs have evolved to their environment to a crazy degree, and bringing in outside ladybug species can pass on pathogens, parasites, or out compete native populations for food. The imported ladybugs generally are from California and won't survive your local winter, so by adding ladybugs this year you might be reducing their numbers in coming years which starts a harmful cycle.

My point is, buy green lacewings or assassin bugs or something else from Arbico Organics or Nature's Good Guys. There are plenty of predators that are a better choice than ladybugs.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

imported ladybugs generally are from California

I doubt they're shipping them across the Atlantic when there are breeders all over the world!

[–] TammyTobacco 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] other_cat 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh this is about importing asian lady beetles and not the normal native red ones from the USA?

[–] TammyTobacco 3 points 2 months ago

It's a bit of both. The problem is ladybugs are so localized that disruptions to their ecosystem really messes them up. In the US most ladybugs are harvested out of a ground breeding kind of ladybug that commonly has parasites they've evolved to be able to fight. But other ladybugs in the rest of the country don't have these defenses and the parasite can infect colonies when they all come together to mate and hibernate for the winter.

[–] scarilog 5 points 2 months ago

Oh the baby aphid in the 4th panel 😔

[–] half_built_pyramids 1 points 2 months ago

Do it