Friday, July 18, 2008

Bug Delivery!



Never a dull moment around CW headquarters. Our lovely office administrator/occasional cover model Chelsie received a shipment of ladybugs this morning. Apparently the cute little insects are ideal gardening aids, eating up nasty aphids and other pests. According to Hirt's Gardens in Wadsworth, Oklahoma (the origin of Chelsie's shipment), if ladybugs settle down each adult can eat 5,000 aphids, then lay up to 1,500 tiny yellow eggs! The eggs then hatch into "black alligator-like larvae," which can eat another 400 aphids!

Shortly after photographing the ladybugs, we learned that after purchase ladybugs must be bathed in cold water and refrigerated. We're happy to announce the ladybugs are safe, sound and ready to get down to business.

And that's your insect lesson of the day.

(Jamie Gadette)
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11 comments:

  1. ChelsieJuly 18, 2008 at 12:34 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. ChelsieJuly 18, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    Sounds like a KARAZZEEE lady bug lady!!! Save the lovely bugs...one 1,500 bug count bag at a time!!!

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  3. AnonymousJuly 18, 2008 at 12:52 PM

    Why order from Oklahoma when you can get them here? Western Gardens has plenty, for instance.

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  4. ChelsieJuly 18, 2008 at 12:56 PM

    These were sent to me (a gift, if you will) from a friend in Alaska who was ordering some for himself-- I was intrigued that you could order live ladybugs in the mail.. what do ya know?!

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  5. AnonymousJuly 18, 2008 at 1:01 PM

    Be sure and put them out in the evening, when it's cool and in the shade. If you put them out when it hot or in sunlight, they disappear fast. Been there. Done that.

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  6. AnonymousJuly 18, 2008 at 2:19 PM

    I see. Well, have fun with them.

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  7. AnonymousJuly 18, 2008 at 2:53 PM

    Yeah Backyard Birds on Highland and 27th sells them and and praying mantis cocoons.

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  8. Suz-a-magooJuly 18, 2008 at 4:19 PM

    My parents used to call me "Ladybug" when I was a little tyke.

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  9. keldwudJuly 18, 2008 at 10:51 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. keldwudJuly 18, 2008 at 10:53 PM

    I'm curious as to why the bathing and the refrigeration. I'm sure I could look it up, but that *is* pretty interesting.

    (deleted my previous comment due to my lack of an ability to spell words like refrigerate properly)

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  11. AnonymousJuly 19, 2008 at 1:16 AM

    So, Chels--

    Did you end up releasing the poor things? Or are they still in your fridge? LOL.

    (bb)

    ReplyDelete

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