Well, I didn't yell like that, or flip out, but inside, my gut turned. The set up: Two Sundays ago, I saw a bunch of robins in the grass, poking around, near the highway. Of course, I got excited; spring is coming! (I don't bother with the groundhog anymore. The poor little guy must be so traumatized by being woken from a sound sleep every year, poked, teased, yelled at, etc. He must be psychologically scared beyond belief!) This past week, I've seen them spread out among the yards, and yesterday pulling some worms! Spring is here! If the stinking snow would melt, I can get out there to till and fertilize! Now, with these things in mind, I'm at my mother in-law's house sitting at the kitchen table. My other half says oh, look, a lady bug. I think, spring, the in-law grabs a papertowel and.... thank God it dropped. She tried! I couldn't believe it!!! She almost got the poor little thing! She would have killed it! I wanted it so badly. Um, well, maybe it's weird, but I did want to take it home and put it in my garden, or at least in a warm place near the door of the basement until it decides that it is warm enough to go outside. All I did was tell her that it was a good bug to have around because it kills other bad bugs. I hope she will be more welcoming to them in the future. :-|
Many people are of the mind that the only good bug is a dead bug. You may never know if she really killed it or not, best not to think about it. She may have more coming literally out of the wood work as the weather gets warmer, they have been known to invade homes in winter to nest.
I had a similar experience at the family cottage. We were sitting outside and my sister spotted a spider making a web in the shed doorway. Without a word, she stood up and started spraying the doorway with Raid! The other guests and I watched in horror, our jaws hanging down when finally I said "what did you do THAT for?" Turns out she doesn't like spiders because of the webs. I would have moved it to the forest for her ...
My husband almost ended up in our pond last year. Why I hear you say. Well he spotted what he thought was a real nasty and was about to squish it when I grabbed it from under his foot (knocking him sideways in the process.) It was a ladybird larva and I just couldn't see it getting murdered. I did manage to grab his sleeve as he teetered on the very edge of the pond but I was sorely tempted to let him fall in. Now he asks before he stamps on anything - well apart from snails and slugs that is!!
During a garden tour, one of our guests decided to pick off all the "worms" from our Passionflower vine. Fortunately one of the guides caught him before he got many and explained that they were the instars of Gulf Fritillary butterfly and that was why we had a Passionflower. Then the guest decided to put the orange "worms" on the driveway so the birds could get them. The guide came to me and I explained about the host/nectar thing for butterflies. I stopped short of asking the guest if he'd like to be a part of our compost pile . . . .
Jane... my brother thought he was doing me a favor by getting those "worms" off my Passionvine. Luckily hubby was there to stop him... "Stop... those are Cheryl's Caterpillars! She's gonna kill you!"
My daughter lived in an old barn built in the 1800's. It was totally renovated and beautiful. At first she loved the fact that Ladybugs were hanging around in her house and flying around in the Winter. After a while she told me to come and look. There were hundreds laying dead in her windowsills. PILES. We had to fumigate had her house many times. We still didn't get rid of all of them but it was good for her. So for a long time we gave her silly things like ladybug flyswatters and flower pots and table cloths for her porch/deck. She thought that may keep them outside rather than inside. That didn't work but it was cute. Lady bugs are GREAT.
Well, folks I am up to my ears and window ledges with lady bugs right now. My vacuum cleaner has been working over time. They are dirty as flies in the house making messes on the windows and walls. Don't be upset with me, please. We have an over abundance of lady bugs here. My garden is full of them all summer. Kingsbrae Gardens in St. Andrews has a ladybug release every year and I think they all come to my house for the winter.
Chrisle, here in Texas we can tell what month it is by what bug is invading. There is cricket month, ladybug month, grasshopper months and months, and fly month. I like ladybugs, but when they are inside they are not welcome! Outside is fine.
With that said it make me think of my Mom who was always rescuing spiders that where in the house and putting them outside. Others would have just killed them. But my Mom always said that spiders are good. Of course I do not think if they where a tarantula I would feel the same way.
Jane don't forget June Bug Month (which is usually April/May) and Crane Fly month (usually called Mayflies because they are a pest in May but Mayfly is a totally different creature) and Cicada months (last year that started in May and ended in November)
