Creepy Crawlies « Sustainable Gardening Australia

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Hi, my name is: Citrus Leafminer

Describe yourself: I’m the tiny larvae of a beautiful silver moth, and am very rarely seen. That said, you can sure see my silvery trail of destruction, as I leave my squiggly tunnels all over the leaves of your favourite citrus trees!

Hobbies: Mama moth loves laying eggs on your fab citrus foliage, and [...]

Aphid

Hi, my name is: Aphid

Describe yourself: I’m a real softy, small in size (around 2 – 3mm), with a shiny, transparent green or yellow body! I occasionally dress up in a white, wooly coat. I’m rarely seen on my own as I hang out in a pretty big group!

Green with Aphids!

The Inside story on an Aphid Colony

Being an enthusiastic gardener, I welcome spring with open arms and can’t wait to get out into the garden to watch it come to life. And it’s not just the plants I’m watching, it’s the animals, birds, lizards and insects that are reappearing after their winter absence. They arrive [...]

Arachnids

Spiders and Mites

Arachnids are not categorised as insects mainly because they have eight legs instead of six (although mites do have a six-legged stage during their development). Most spiders are beneficial in the garden but some mites aren’t.

Cabbage White Butterfly

Hi, my name is: Cabbage White Butterfly

Describe yourself: I am quite a striking white butterfly, with two lovely grey/black spots on my wings. I’m probably the most common butterfly in your home garden. In my youthful (but destructive) days, I am a silky, blue-green colour… very attractive, if I say so myself!

Caterpillar

Hi, my name is: Caterpillar

Describe yourself: I am a child star, and appear in a really well known children’s book! It’s true, I am very hungry, and even though I am very young (we are the larvae of moths and butterflies), my enormous appetite is impressive! I’m very recognisable and come in many sizes and [...]

Christmas Beetles

(Anoplognathus pallidicollis)

Most of us would be familiar with the bright and glossy Christmas beetles. We often see them dazed and confused, crawling around on the ground or in the house in the morning after a big night out (they are attracted to bright lights!).

As their name suggests, the adult beetle is most active during the [...]

Citrus Gall Wasp

Hi, my name is: Citrus Gall Wasp

Describe yourself: I’m a real gone surfer girl, originally from coastal Queensland and New South Wales but now I’m found as far south as Melbourne! I’m a pocket rocket – being only 3mm long – with lovely sun kissed dark skin, a delightful set of papery wings and some [...]

Coddling Moth

Hi, my name is: Coddling Moth

Describe yourself: Man… I have the best sense of humour! Ready… “What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?” “Finding half a worm in your apple!!!” That joke’s about me, well, me, when I was a little tacker! Now that I am all grown up I am a pretty [...]

European Earwig

Hi, my name is: European Earwig

Describe yourself: I am one striking little number, about 12-20mm in length! I’m smooth, shiny, dark chocolate brown, with sensational pale yellow legs, shoulders and pincers! Oh yeah, I’m as gorgeous as I sound! And, I don’t actually crawl into peoples ears!