Butterflies at a glance Occupation:Pollinators & PestsValue to Gardener:2/5 – Mostly pest species, specialist pollinatorsDanger to Humans:1/5 – HarmlessAvailability:5/5 – They’ll arrive Tafel CXXVIII. Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair.1864. Acidalia pedilata; Cidaria undosata; Timandra goniaria; Semiothisa foveolata; Acidalia tuhuata;… Continue reading Butterfly: Garden Critter of the Month
Category: Insect
Aphids – Pest of the Month
Aphids at a glance Type of Damage Pierce-sucking Plant Symptoms Stunted growth, leaf curl, transmit diseases Favourite Plant All plants Occurrence Year-round in areas with mild winters (SA) Distribution Worldwide Control Difficult, physical preferable, biological control agents available Quick Intro Aphids are an ubiquitous pest species, if you have ever taken care of a… Continue reading Aphids – Pest of the Month
Lacewings: Biological Control – Garden Critter of the Month
Lacewings at a glance Occupation: Predator Value to Gardener: 5/5 - Pest Controller Danger to Humans: 2/5 – Harmless Availability: 5/5 – They’ll arrive or you can buy some Quick Intro Lacewings adults are delicate wee fairy-folk of the vegetable garden… but do not let them fool you as they are voracious hunters of pest… Continue reading Lacewings: Biological Control – Garden Critter of the Month
Little White Butterflies
Where do the white butterflies come from? Where do the white butterflies go? Brown Veined White Butterfly on pompoms, Belenois aurota Every year in South Africa, during December-January, little white butterflies take to the air in their thousands, all flying in the same direction. They visit gardens and flowers along the way. Even though it… Continue reading Little White Butterflies
Spiders: Biological Control – Garden Critter of the Month
Spiders at a glance Occupation: Predator Value to Gardener: 5/5 - Pest Controller! Danger to Humans: 4/5 – Some are very poisonous Availability: 5/5 – They’ll arrive in your garden Quick Intro Most people shriek at the sight of a spider and try their very best to stomp it out of existence. I believe that… Continue reading Spiders: Biological Control – Garden Critter of the Month
Flies: Biological Control – Garden Critter of the Month
Flies at a glance Occupation: Predator, pollinator Value to Gardener: 5/5 - Pest Controller and Pollinator Danger to Humans: 2/5 – Most are harmless, some bite Availability: 5/5 – They’ll arrive or you can buy some Quick Intro Flies are seen as vermin and disgusting creatures. Although a large portion of flies are detrivores and… Continue reading Flies: Biological Control – Garden Critter of the Month
Caterpillars – Garden Pest of the Month
Caterpillars at a glance Type of Damage Chewing Plant Symptoms Holes in fruits, missing leaves, eaten leaves, ‘felled’ seedlings Favourite Plant Most food crops, especially tomatoes, fruit trees, grapes, citrus, sweet potato, Solanum family Control Biological (predators: wasps, mantids, assassin bugs & chickens), else physical removal Quick Intro Caterpillars are regarded as one of the… Continue reading Caterpillars – Garden Pest of the Month
Whisker Flowers 