Even the cosiest corners of the internet can be bloodthirsty in the right circumstances.
The image of a little guest going to town on some garden pests garnered many approving comments on a gardening subreddit.
Photo Credit: Reddit
The picture, posted on r/NativePlantGardening, shows a beetle binging on aphids. “I spotted a milkweed that was mysteriously clear of aphids,” the delightfully dark caption reads. “I found this little beauty and moved her to her next feast. Still there an hour later. Go girl go!!”
“I love how you can just casually read the most metal s*** ever at 730 in the morning from looking at the gardening sub,” one approving commenter wrote.
There was some discussion about the breed of the spotted little helper. At first glance, it appeared to be a common ladybug, but users identified it as an Asian lady beetle.
Similar in appearance to the ladybug, the lady beetle was brought to the United States for agricultural pest control. They are larger and differ slightly in color but can usually be spotted by their distinctive M-shaped markings on their upper thoraxes. They can sometimes be a nuisance but are generally harmless to people and pets.
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As a natural form of pest control, they’re helpful, but experts do not recommend purchasing and releasing them into a garden. For one, they can fly away, so they’ll just move on if they aren’t satisfied with the grub(s) on offer.
The milkweed in the picture is a vitally important plant for the endangered monarch butterfly, a critical pollinator.
“I plant mine for monarchs, and I’ll do what I call ‘aphid war’ every few days where I take the hose and spray them off every. single. milkweed plant,” one user said. “They’re my bane every summer.”
Little wonder then that the aphid extermination garnered such unrestrained glee in the comments. “Makes me so happy!!” someone else gushed, while another person added, “Was just outside cheerleading all the ladybugs I saw!!”
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By rewilding a yard with native plants, it’s possible to enjoy a beautiful garden and perhaps even witness a teeny insect thunderdome too.
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