I just read a really neat article on page 14 in the May issue of Organic Gardening about how if a plant gets attacked by, say, aphids, it sends out a chemical distress call that beneficial insects can hear loud and clear. Then the "5th ladybug army battalion" storms to the rescue, attacking the invaders with a hungry vengeance. The chemical distress signal the plants exude is called methyl salicylate. A healthy plant can send out this chemical 911 that predatory insects can smell from far and wide. They come in droves to feast on the attackers, making harmful sprays in many cases unnecessary!
Isn't this a cute picture?The ladybug looks like
he's sitting down. What
a way to enjoy this tasty
little red aphid snack! The
picture above is an attack
of yellow aphids.
