Ugly Bugs.

1. Green Lacewing Larva

As pretty as the green lacewing is, it’s pretty useless at killing garden pests in its adult stage. It is more of a pollinator than anything, feeding off pollen and flower nectar. But, the green lacewing’s larva stage is a totally different story. These creepy-looking larvae are actually the ones doing all the work. Their larvae are yellow or white with two brown stripes down their backs and are equipped with freakishly long mandibles. Green lacewings are a generalist predator known best for feeding on aphids, mites, and other soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, and whiteflies. If their larvae were any bigger though… Can we say nightmare fuel?

2. Ladybug Larva

That strange-looking black and orange bug is actually the juvenile stage of the well-loved ladybug. Ladybug larvae are around ½ inch long. They’re black with striking orange, red, or white markings and are covered in little spikes. Ladybug larvae do most of the work when it comes to keeping aphids at bay and spend a few weeks munching away at aphids, about 300 in three short weeks before they pupate. A ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in their lifetime, but they also prey on soft scale whitefly pupa, thrips, spider mites, and occasionally like to munch on pollen. So, if you see these little guys in your garden, know your aphid problem is being dealt with.

4. Minute Pirate Bug Nymph

Minute pirate bugs are “true” bugs, belonging to the order hemiptera. Minute pirate bugs are quite small, hence their name “minute”, and are less than one-fifth of an inch long. Nymphs are tear-drop shaped, orange, and also share the same diet as the adults, though they lack most of their characteristics. An adult minute pirate bug can consume up to 20 thrip larvae each day. Their diet includes aphids, spider mites, and thrips. But, don’t let the minute pirate bugs bite: they will bite humans, however irritation is only minimal and temporary. Keep these guys happy and they’ll keep your garden happy, and maybe you’ll be itchy for a day or two.

5. Hoverfly Larva

Hoverflies are great for your garden as babies and as adults. As adults, they look similar to bees: their bodies are covered in yellow and black stripes and have a similar role for your garden as bees do: drink flower nectar and pollinate your garden. But, as babies, they are greenish-grey slug-like tiny maggots who feed on garden pests. Larvae feed on caterpillars, cabbage worms, and many species of aphids. As ugly as their maggots are, their adult form is very pretty and entirely harmless, so don’t swat them away!

6. Damsel Bug Nymph

Damsel bugs are also “true” bugs, belonging to the order hemiptera. Damsel bug adults are roughly ⅜ – ½ inch long. They prey on aphids, leafhoppers, plant bugs, thrips, and small caterpillars. Female damsel bugs will lay eggs in plant tissue, and after 1 week, nymphs hatch and start eating immediately. Damsel bug nymphs are quite ugly, with long spindly legs that allow them to be quick and seek slower moving prey. For three to four weeks, nymphs will attack and eat prey, sometimes even larger than themselves, before they moult into adults.

7. Soldier Beetle Larva

Soldier beetles are a close relative to fireflies, and only mate once in early summer. Eggs are laid in soil and larva emerge soon after. Soldier beetles remain as larva for up to one year and feed on the eggs and larvae of other insects. Soldier beetle larvae are a very important part of controlling grasshopper populations, as their larvae eat predominantly grasshopper eggs. Their larva also feed on the eggs and larvae of beetles, moths, and other insects. As adults, they are omnivores and feed on aphids, other soft-bodied insects, flower nectar, and pollen.

8. Aphid Midge Larva

Aphid midges are tiny delicate flies, measuring less than ⅛ inch long. They have long, slender legs and antennae that curl back behind their head. They look a bit like a tiny mosquito, but they’re harmless to you and would never bite a human. Their larva, though, are bright orange and consume soft-bodied insect pests. They consume about 60 different species of aphids, including ones that eat vegetable crops, ornamentals, and even fruit trees. Aphid midges can be more effective at managing aphid infestations than ladybugs and lacewings. Larvae first inject a poison into the aphids’ leg joints to paralyze them, and then consume them through a hole they bite in the aphid’s thorax as though they were a smoothie. The average larva will eat for three to seven days, consuming up to 65 aphids a day. After a week, they pupate underground, and in ten days they emerge as adults.

10. Tachinid Fly Larva

Tachinid fly adults look like small house flies covered in dark hairs. They measure anywhere from ⅓ inch to ¾ inch in length. As harmless as they are to humans, tachinid fly larvae are truly the things of your worst nightmares… if you were a caterpillar.

Tachinid flies are parasitic and adult females lay their eggs on the underside of leaves in hopes an unsuspecting insect will eat them. They also lay eggs on the bodies of host insects, and some species even deposit live larvae into the host’s body. If you’re not already completely mortified, their maggots will begin to consume their hosts by eating non-essential tissue first. This is to ensure the host will grow and feed normally, prolonging its suffering, which is exactly what the maggots want. When the non-essential material is fully consumed, the larvae will eat the host’s vital organs. The larvae will then pupate inside or outside the prey’s body and then pop out as adult tachinid flies. And thus, the life cycle repeats.

Now, with that horrifying imagery in your mind, tachinid fly larvae help you get rid of caterpillars of many kinds including cabbage worms, potato beetles, corn ear worms, cucumber beetles, cutworms, earwigs, four lined plant bugs, japanese beetles, mexican bean beetles, sawfly larvae, squash bugs, and tobacco budworms. Just… yeah… Try not to think about it. Nature, right?

Cute Bug #2: Jumping Spider spiderling

Arachnophobia is a really common fear. For some people, even a picture of a spider sets off their fight or flight response. So, how could these creepy crawlies possibly be cute, you may ask? Well, just look at these baby jumping spiders, which are called spiderlings. Big eyes, stumpy legs, chubby butts, also very beneficial to your garden. These little arachnids keep insect populations under control and like to wear water droplets as hats. Aww! They’re so cute, you’ll completely forget about those tachinid fly maggots. Whoops. Sorry, mentioned them again. Hey, look at the water droplet on its head, like a hat! Wouldn’t it be nice to have one as a pet, like a lap cat, but a spider? A lap spider? Ehh… No, that’s going too far.

Cute Bug #3: Ladypug

Now this is a lot better than a lap-spider. The ladypug is a great companion for your garden and your home. Ladypugs are very beneficial and even provide their very own fertilizer if you forget to pick up after them. Who knows, they might even see a random bug and eat it before you can stop them!

Ladypugs require lots of pets, walks, and treats. Throw a ball, a stick, or let the ladypug roll in the grass, but make sure that wasn’t poop it rolled in! No, it was just a dead bird. Looks like it’s time for a bath.

Yes, we know. This is obviously not a bug, and is just a pug in a ladybug costume. We merely thought you could use some eye bleach, especially after all those ugly bugs. No, we will not mention those tachinid flies again. Whoops, just did again.