Decisions, decisions...

Where's the best spot for the new residents of my garden?

I acquired two ladybugs last Saturday during the 99th annual UC Davis Picnic Day. Background: as part of the campuswide celebration, the Department of Entomology annually hosts an all-out bugfest at the Bohart Museum of Entomology and at Briggs Hall. And keeping with the Briggs Hall tradition, the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program gifted picnickers with the treasured ladybugs.

Now ladybugs aren't really "bugs"; they're beetles. Neither are they all "ladies"; some have manly qualities. (Gender issues may confuse us, but not the lady and gentlemen beetles.) 

A ladybug is a good beneficial insect. It can devour an estimated 5000 aphids in its lifetime (three to six weeks).

So, every year for the past several years, I've adopted two ladybugs, chauffered them home, and tucked them in our garden. "Please eat the aphids," I tell them.

And they do.

They're good at following instructions. 

Last year they took up residence in a bed of red roses. This year, they're coming up in the world--a high rise.  A tower of jewels (Echium wildpretii) is "home sweet home."

Life doesn't get any better than this if you're a ladybug (and any worse if you're an aphid).