guardians of the garden: ladybugs

^^Ladybug (Coccinellidae sp.)

 
^^two larva and a pupa (centre)

^^Notice that the female is happily munching on an aphid while mating.

^^larva

garden help

Ladybug!  Ladybug!
Fly away home.

Your house is on fire.

And your children all gone...

larva of the Japanese Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) 

check out BugGuide for more ladybugs

 ^^despite their scary looks, ladybugs are voracious aphid predators and a friend to gardeners.

 ^^yellowjacket (Vespula sp.)

 ^^while not very popular, yellowjackets are helpful garden predators

^^visit  What's that Bug?  for lots of great wasp info and photos