Bug Discovery Day

Today seemed to be all about Bugs!

We found some big, fat, white caterpillar type things in the soil (grubs apparently), and despite thinking they were 'Goodies' because of the friendly little grub on Dirt Girl World, I'm told they are in fact 'Baddies' and will eat root crops...so have to be got rid of. Birds are your best bet but I've never seen any around the allotments...and I'm certainly not going to squash them as one person advised...bleurgh.

Next was a furry brown caterpillar on the old bean stalks - very cute looking but again, I bet they need to be disposed of. We got a book from the library that showed you how to make a caterpillar house and watch them turn into butterflies, so think we will do that soon as we get the old fish tank down from the loft. Haven't identified what our furry brown chap will turn into, despite looking.

Plenty of ladybirds to be seen - in fact, I'm surprised at how many bugs we did see considering the time of year and the cold weather.

Lastly, some very pretty metallic blue bugs...apparently these are 'Blue Shield Bugs' and I'm waiting to find out whether they are the gardeners friend or foe. They are supposed to eat beetle larvae so hopefully they will be Goodies!