Macro Bugs : Identification

Hey everyone I didn't see a thread about this but if there is already one let me know. My idea was to start a thread and share some macro photography of the bugs I find while I'm in the garden - ID them if possible and share what I do to control them and also learn what other people do

Some are beneficial and some are not. I try NOT to harm stuff (unless it's spider mites we go to war). I mostly enjoy the detail of close up photos

To start it off I caught this little guy this morning before he could get to breakfast with his fam. What looks like a Caterpillar, is actually a Cabbage Looper.

Cabbage loopers will burn through your fan leaves fast.

"Cabbage loopers have no legs in the middle of their body; they hump their bodies as they "inch" along. The adult form of this caterpillar is a gray moth that overwinters in warm climates and then migrates north in springtime to lay eggs. Look for these white eggs on the underside of leaves near the leaf edge. "



These guys are very small to catch roaming around when they first appear so pay attention to any holes in your leaves that shouldn't be there. By the time they are visible, they have eaten a couple leaves to be so.

A Green Lacewing.

My favorite of little critters. So elegant and crazy how their wings are constructed. Like Vellum paper but so transparent.. I guess glass is a better analogy. Hence the name 'LACE - wing' ... If you see one of these; it is OK pls do not kill it. The adults feed on nectar, honeydew & pollen. If you have pollen concerns maybe move it away to prevent accidents.



"Dangerous to other insects in your garden. At the larval stage, lacewings devour aphids and other pests such as mealybugs, thrips and juvenile whiteflies in massive numbers."

Females lay 100's of eggs.

The weirdest/coolest looking bugs I've ever seen have been the ones I've found on my outdoor cannabis over the years. At times I've contemplated if it's possible that it's a bug that has yet to be discovered. I'll have to start a catalog of them this year and post it here.

BeastLebanese said:

The weirdest/coolest looking bugs I've ever seen have been the ones I've found on my outdoor cannabis over the years. At times I've contemplated if it's possible that it's a bug that has yet to be discovered. I'll have to start a catalog of them this year and post it here.

Click to expand...

I agree ; I think they must get a buzz from the plants haha. Could you imagine..

Pictures are appreciated: Would be great to expand my friend - perhaps can help ID some weird ones with u and different ways 2 control or keep them

Don't sleep on the praying mantis ... I release these in the greenhouse every year.. not a single bud worm in sight

mistergrafik said:

A Green Lacewing.

My favorite of little critters. So elegant and crazy how their wings are constructed. Like Vellum paper but so transparent.. I guess glass is a better analogy. Hence the name 'LACE - wing' ... If you see one of these; it is OK pls do not kill it. The adults feed on nectar, honeydew & pollen. If you have pollen concerns maybe move it away to prevent accidents.

View attachment 4799183

"Dangerous to other insects in your garden. At the larval stage, lacewings devour aphids and other pests such as mealybugs, thrips and juvenile whiteflies in massive numbers."

Females lay 100's of eggs.

Click to expand...

Just thought it was cool how the eyes look in your photo. I found this pic online.