Mama Spider Knows Best

  Flanking the steps outside the French doors, a variety of plants can be found.  Several of these are ginger and turmeric plants.  The plants evidently love the spot under the arbor surrounding the door because they grow profusely and, once the leaves overhang the steps, the aroma is incredible when anyone uses the doors.  This also makes it handy to grab a few leaves or a root to use in the kitchen. The area is sort of like an herb garden with the added beauty of stained glass French doors.  I love it.

  Obviously, I am not the only one that loves the gingers and turmerics.  Deep down in the spirals where the new leaves come from the main stalk, a spider has made her web.  This is not the spider's main web but her retreat web where she hides during the daytime hours.  At night, the arbor is strung with an intricate web as the spider catches her supper but, as the sun rises, she crawls back in her hiding spot.  It is in that retreat web that she has her egg sacs.  There, she can protect the sacs from any marauding critters.  Centipedes and wasps are both known to eat the eggs so it is a full time job for the female to protect her egg sacs. 

  I noticed this morning that the spider had moved her egg sacs from the retreat web to a spot deeper in the plant's leaves.  Perhaps she feared for their safety or perhaps she, herself, is going to move to a less obvious spot.  Mama Spider knows what is best and I admire her determination to keep things safe.  At least, she does not have to fear me.  I would never intentionally shoo a spider from any of the gardens!

  

Killers On The Prowl!

   September usually sees the garden filled with insects.  While a lot of these are classified as "garden pests", there are equally as many that are garden helpers.   They are there simply to munch on the pesky sort.  The turmeric plants are a good four feet in height now with leaves approximately eight inches wide.  A myriad of critters can easily hide in this tropical-like forest!  Lizards, frogs, ribbon snakes...all have been found there.  They are there simply because of the multitude of bugs that can be an easy meal.  There is also a lovely bug that is hunting for its meal, as well. 

  This morning, the bright orange Milkweed Assassin Bugs were on the prowl.  These expert killers are hunting insects that are on the plants to either eat or lay eggs.  They are Mother Nature's "insecticide".  These bugs keep things in check so there will not be an overabundance of other critters.  Most of the ones I found this morning were still juveniles that were just getting their wings.  They still had the white spots on their bodies.  

  I rather enjoy having the critters in the garden but keep in mind that Milkweed Assassin Bugs can and will bite if handled.  Their bite is not unlike a bee sting in pain level comparisons.  The only main difference is the lack of toxins.  The Assassin Bug's defense is just a bite...nothing more.  While the wound site may have a welt that lingers for a bit, there is no real danger.  That said, it is wise to avoid one and let it go on its merry way.  That way, the bug can do its job of eating all the pests.

A Jewel Of A Friend!

  Since finding that the garlic chives are blooming and that those blossoms attract numerous insects, the herb garden is first on my early morning hikes.  I find it interesting to see just who comes to visit and in the wee hours of the morn, I am able to see a mishmash of nocturnal and diurnal critters.  This morning, the blossoms were literally buzzing with insects but a lone critter on the turmeric leaf caught my eye.  A gorgeous Long-legged Fly was lounging in the first sunbeams to reach the garden plot. The green and coppery colors of the fly shimmered in the sunlight making the insect look a lot like some misplaced jewel. 

  The Long-legged fly (Condylostylus spp.) is an often maltreated critter since it so greatly resembles something that should bite.  Many folks think this is a weird type of mosquito or biting fly (esp. yellowfly) when actually it is a mild mannered critter that is quite helpful to gardeners.  The adult fly dines upon smaller garden pests such as plant mites and aphids while its larvae feasts upon other insect larvae and rotting leaf matter.  Neither have a propensity of biting humans nor pets. They really just want to flit about the plants and keep them pest free.  It is not often that you find such a grand helper and folks really need to stop spraying them!  So...look carefully and learn to recognize this fine friend...big eyes, long legs and a beautiful coppery/green coloring!

Encouraging Find

   Way back in February, I was surprised to find a beautiful, green lacewing on my front steps.  The small bug had just recently changed from its larvae state to an adult and was a bit sluggish yet.  Of course, I HAD to sit next to the insect to protect it from the (at the time) kitten, Bat.  Bat was at that curious age where everything that moved was a target of interest.  So, I "babysat" the bug until it was strong enough to venture out into the world.  Finding the insect made me happy as they are delightful things to have in the garden.  While in the larvae state, they have voracious appetites for a lot of garden pests.  Most people would rather dump a bunch of chemicals on the plants and call it a day but I am a bit more careful about my gardens.  No chemical sprays are used.  Those kill both the good and the bad.  Personally, I would rather let the lacewings do the job for me.

  I had high hopes that the lacewing would return to the steps to lay her eggs thus starting a new generation of helpers.  Imagine my delight when I found the telltale spiral of tiny, pale green eggs on the underside of the turmeric leaf!  This turmeric plant is in a large pot sitting on the bottom step near where the original lacewing was found.  In a few days, these eggs should hatch and the larva will start their hunt for prey.  This gives me hope that there may be less garden pests in the future.  Carry on, Little Lacewings!