Above, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, the Mealy bug destroyer. This is the larva form. This wonderful creature eats aphids and scale when mealybugs are scarce. It is endemic to New South Wales, Australia and was brought to California in 1891 by Albert Koebele to control the Cottony Cushion Scale, a serious pest of Citrus. The adult form is a small dark brown beetle with an orange-y head.
Spider
Lizard
Kitty
Natasha
Boris and Agave shadows
Spider
Natasha
Boris and Agave shadows
Blogger, in habitat:
Fantastic photo of the mealy bug destroyer. And the lizard. All of them, in fact.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteMore lizard photos please! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll see what I can do. :)
DeleteLizards over mealy bugs any day! Not to mention Boris and Natasha.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I think. :)
DeleteI could use a few mealy bug destroyers in my own garden! Lizards, I have oodles of. Another one found its way into the living room today (I think they hitch their way in via the sliding screen doors) but luckily I found him before my cat did and he'll live another day.
ReplyDeleteAll my A. desmetianas that are blooming were full of mealies; all of a sudden they are not. :) The Destroyers just showed up--lucky! Lizards are just as wonderful, awesome garden friends.
DeleteGreat post, I hate the mealy bug destroyer, I have them too; I tolerate the spider and lizard, they are useful; I love your cat and Boris and Natasha, I'm fond of furry animals; I admire you in your habitat, nice to see the owner of this beautiful blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janneke!
DeleteWhile we belong to Boris and Natasha (in their minds at least), the cat was one strolling around U.C. Santa Cruz Botanical garden.
Delete