Friday, June 15, 2018

Ladybirds and Leather


Although I called in sick to work yesterday, I did get out of the house for one critical errand. I had to get Dave's sandals repaired, because he's taking off for the USA on Monday and he wants to wear them while he's there. One of the ankle straps, near the buckle, was broken. He even considered buying a new pair, but I did some research and found a place that would fix them in time.

So, impaired only slightly by my sniffling and hacking, I made my way to Camden Road, to the shoe repair place on the right in the photo above. (They also make keys, engrave trophies, fix luggage, repair horse saddles, do alterations and tailoring and fix watches. A "one stop shop," as the sign says.) I dropped off the sandals and they should be ready today.

Then I came home and got into bed and pretty much stayed there.


When the mail came, I was happy to find our newest order of ladybirds had arrived! We ordered 25 adult ladybirds and 50 larvae, in the hopes that they would snack on the aphids populating our cardoon and our inulas. When Dave got home from work, we took them out in the garden and set them free.


Some got to work right away...


...and some had other ideas of, I believe, an amorous nature.


We also released the larvae, which were so tiny I could barely see them. They came nestled in shredded paper, and we simply scattered the paper on the lower leaves of the plants. I could not possibly begin to verify that there were actually 50 larvae in that box.

These are Adalia bipunctata, the two-spot ladybird, one of the native varieties said to be suffering at the hands (?) of the larger and more vigorous Asian, or harlequin, variety. I'd read that buying ladybirds for the garden actually has little practical effect, because most of them fly away, but I don't mind just adding them to the environment and letting them do their thing, even if it's ultimately not on our plants.

And sure enough, when I went out in the evening to see how they were doing, I could only find two of them. So they may already be off on their ladybird adventures!

11 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Good! I beat The Brighton Belle to the comments section this morning. Sounds like you enjoyed "playing hooky" yesterday - gallivanting about and watching ladybirds having sex. I hope you wore a disguise when you went to Camden Road - in case someone from your school spotted you.

Elizabeth said...

Those are some wild photos! I hope your cold improves, Steve!

Ms. Moon said...

How wonderful to have a shop nearby that can fix things! We live in such a throw-away society that it's a rare and beautiful thing to see.
Just like those ladybirds. Although I've always called them ladybugs.
If I didn't love you before, I'd love you now for buying and releasing them. So I guess I just love you more.
Now get well!

Red said...

I hope that the bugs do their job and eat all your aphids before they leave.

Anonymous said...

I think we may need to get a batch of ladybird(bugs) for our yard. The aphids have invaded here. Wonderful idea and grand photos. Hope you are feeling better today.

ellen abbott said...

I don't think I have ever bought ladybugs, maybe once, but I did buy a praying mantis egg case and had praying mantises for years afterward.

The Bug said...

You've reminded me that I have two pairs of shoes that need repaired. Next, I have to remember to bring them to work with me so I can take them to the repair place!

Catalyst said...

I didn't realize you could buy bugs through the mail. Actually I didn't realize you could buy bugs.

jenny_o said...

I agree with Ms Moon, it's wonderful to see a place that can repair things.

I hope that your bugs stick around for a little while at least. Maybe long enough to lay some eggs to make new bugs!

Hope you feel better soon.

jenny_o said...

I left an answer to your fax question on yesterday's post!

37paddington said...

Safe travels Dave!