Recently spotted on my vines, a couple of different ladybird species. Above we have the kidney spot ladybird, Chilocorus renipustulatus. It’s welcome: it eats scale insects such as mealybugs. Below, pictured on a Phoenix leaf, we have the harlequin ladybrid, Harmonia axyridis. This is welcome as well, because of its aphid and scale munching habit, but is less welcome because it is an invasive species. Introduced into the UK in 2004, it has been spreading fast, and outcompetes the indigenous species.
It’s nice that you have a vineyard aphid extermination team. I’m not sure if you make wine from your grapes, but be careful when harvesting – Harmonia can lead to a bell pepper like taint in wine http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118645749/abstract
Ladybirds are a yearly challenge in Ontario and you don’t need that many in a press or fermenter to ruin a wine. Burgundy had “Le gout des 2004”.
Keep going with the good posts.
J-M Bouchard
unless you’re harvesting your tiny vineyard with tiny robot machines, these little guys won’t taint your vino mr jaime – viva la ladybugs!!