Insects

Take a look at this collection of insects we’ve found out at the farm! All pictures are from 2014 forward, and were taken by a LaFarm worker. We’ll try to identify what we’re putting up here, and list whether it’s good or bad to have around.

: We believe this is a variety of Harlequin Beetle-known for mimicking the look of ladybugs. They are pests.

: This little fellow is a the larva of a ladybug. Very beneficial

: This is the larva of a Mexican Bean Beetle, a pest that loves all bean plants

: This is the caterpillar of a Black Swallowtail- definitely beneficial!

: This is some kind of Angelwing Butterfly. Here it is pollinating our common milkweed- one of its very beneficial activities.

: A Docile Italian Honeybee- one of our coworkers at the apiary. They are docile, but can sting if you get too close to the hive or a flower they’re enjoying.

: We don’t know what this little pal is, just that it was on the wall of our shed one day.

: This looks like some form of weevil-a very bad bug to have. Luckily, we haven’t seen many of these on the farm.

: A young harlequin beetle. This variety is mimicking the round ladybugs we all think of, whereas the longer types mimic the twelve spotted ladybug.

: A Purple Orb Weaver. These spiders, like most spiders, are really good to have on the farm. Also, they’re not poisonous, so that’s a plus. The orbs seen in the top left, are egg sacs.

: A praying Mantis. As with spiders and all carnivorous bugs, very good to have at the farm. This one was on campus though, unfortunately.

: A red caterpillar, which we have yet to identify. Also haven’t seen them in large numbers

: A round ladybug. Their longer name is Ladybird Beetles, the various members of this species are carnivorous, feeding on aphids and other awful bugs you don’t want. Great to have around!

: Another Ladybug Larva. As they age, their colors change until they pupate and morph into their adult form.

: A Japanese Beetle. These neon green and brown bugs are invasive (as their name might suggest) and are harmful pests.

: This shiny black little one is a flea beetle. They’re a big cause of damage as they will eat a plant until it can’t recover! They don’t like the heat, but they arrive on the farm before anything carnivorous, making them an awful infestation to deal with.

: This is known as the 12 spotted lady bug, and is beneficial like all lady bugs

: This white grasshopper-imitator is known as a leaf hopper, and they are harmful pests that will eat leaves. In fact, the whole family of grasshoppers are essentially locusts you don’t want around.

: This little orange and black beetle is a lightning bug (also known as the firefly.) Lampyridae are both pretty and beneficial!

: This is the evil squash bug, a large gray beetle which feeds on squash plants. Watch out though, there is a look alike with pointed shoulders that actually feeds on bugs like this. Look before you squish!

: A mature Colorado Potato Beetle

: A larva of the Colorado Potato beetle, an awful bug that will annihilate Potatoes and some other nightshades like Eggplant. You don’t want this invasive species around!

: A Western Striped Cucumber Beetle. These nasty critters eat all sorts of squash, and also come in a more yellow variety, as well as a yellow spotted variety

: Monarchs at the farm! Everyone loves these beneficial, migratory Butterflies.

: A bumble bee and a caterpillar on a bachelor’s button. Pollinators at work are always a good sight

: Another cucumber beetle, with different coloration

: A Black Swallowtail butterfly

: According to some, before many European honey bees were introduced to America, butterflies played a bigger role in pollination. They’re still beautiful and important to our ecosystem

: A Spring Moth of one kind or another. While some moths like cabbage moths (which look like this guy but smaller) are bad, others are good pollinators

: The Red Admiral

: This is a Silver-Spotted Skipper

: An American Lady on Pink Echinacea

: The other side of the American Lady

: This is actually a White-Spotted Sable Moth!

: This seems to be either a Tawny Emperor or a Meado Fritillary Butterfly on a Zinnia

: We don’t know what this moth is yet

: This is actually a False Duskywing Butterfly

: A wonderfully loud Cicada. These large beetles are responsible for the boisterous, repetitive clicking noise that is omnipresent in the outdoors of the northeast for the late summer and fall