Country diary: Not every group of ladybirds is a loveliness

Langstone, Hampshire: Harlequin larvae have arrived in my garden, and the reception is mixedAs an organic gardener, I've become resigned to the fact that by the end of May my broad beans are always besieged by black bean aphids. Then, in June, a generation of winged females seeks out summer host plants, colonising my French and runner beans, nasturtiums and dahlias. But this year, there's been a curious dearth of the sap-sucking insects. Where I'd normally find them massing on soft shoot tips, stems and the underside of leaves, my plants remain unblemished.Initially, I thought I had blue tits to thank. A pair nested in my garden for the first time this year and have been busily gathering insects to feed their clamouring chicks. But after staking out the box, I determined that they were primarily providing them with juicy green caterpillars. Continue reading...