ladybeetle larva and adults will gladly devour caterpillars when they (the caterpillars) are small. They will even eat the eggs. [They behave as little cannibals, so we shouldn't be too surprised at that.] Some ant species will protect ' their' aphids from anything they perceive as a threat and some even act as predators. I've watched many a mass attack on caterpillars, by ants. Pictures would really help us ID the little critter you've observed.

Tolip and Mike, According to the label on the KeRex, it "prevents metallic iron from combining with other compounds in the soil, and allows it to remain free and available to the plant." It is suitable for alkaline soils that we have here. Biology and chemistry are the weakest areas of my academic background; therefore I have no idea how accurate and truthful the label claims. In addition, since the plants are in potting soils instead of alkaline soils, I am not sure how KeRex would help. But heck, l feed the plants with it nonetheless. Worst of worst, the plants would die; yet it is not the end of the world. Growing Michelia Alba in low desert is challenging to say the least. We have all the âÂÂshould not haveâ in our environment. I have had these three plants for 3 years, and have been keeping them indoor during cold winter and on the back yard patio the rest of the year. They receive morning sun until noon, then are in the shade of our house. Yesterday I moved them onto the grass where they would receive filtered sunlight until noon, and then under the shade of big trees. Without saucers, the water would flow freely to the grass area. Now, our temperature is 90s in the day and 60s during the night. I will wait for a couple of weeks before giving them light dose of miracle grow. I also grow Grand Dukes and Plumerias, they are so easy to take care. In comparison, tendering Michelia Alba is such a pain, but the intoxicate fragrance from the blooms is 2nd to none, it makes every effort worthwhile. I will follow up after a few weeks. Thank you again.

Sunlight Gardens, a mail-order nursery with a very good selection of regional natives, especially recommends the Dutchman's Pipe or Pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla) for "screening" uses in a shady location. This vine will grow in sun or shade although probably not really deep shade. Not evergreen; however, the large, 6 to 12 inch, heart-shaped leaves, will effectively cover a fence or trellis during the growing season. The plant is named for the shape of the flowers. More description: "Dutchmans Pipe is a common vine in moist southern Appalachian hardwood forests in coves and along stream banks easily twining 20 to 30 feet high. It has been popular as a porch screen for ages because it is fast growing, has large heart shaped leaves, and has odd little flowers. The two inch pale brownish purple flowers are pipe shaped or s-shaped with a widely flaring triangular "mouth" perfect for catching careless flies. The curious looking early summer flowers are borne sparsely among the wide leaves. Try it on a trellis for screening or let it ramble among shrubs and trees. It likes good moist soil and can take either shade or sun." For even more information, see http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J410 "Will quickly provide dense cover for sun porches, verandas, pillars, posts, trellises, arbors, fences or walls. Has been used for many years to screen front porches, and is capable of creating a deep shade." And, as a further benefit, pipevine (Aristolochia) is the main host plant for the caterpillar of the beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly, described here. (So if you do plant this vine, and then eventually a weird looking black caterpillar with orange spikes all over its body shows up, please take good care of your "babies" and don't spray them!) http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/pipevine_swallowtail.htm Here is a link that might be useful: Dutchman's Pipe Vine available - Sunlight Gardens

No pinholes ... nothing was eating it at all. I do have one very small muncher now that wasn't there before: I'm assuming it is the same little one that created both spots. This is the first I've seen of any effect of any kind on any of the leaves except for a slight curl on one leaf which on further inspection had no insect involvement. I just left everyone on the plant last year (yeah, even the aphids ... they won't get to stay if they move in again; there were just so many so fast last time), and they didn't seem to have any issues. Maybe I'm just impatient ... everything seems slow this year, so maybe the monarchs are too. Back to the pale bug, this is it:I guess it's a bit thinner than I remembered it being, but that's the bug. It also has a friend that's similar but more brown, which I guess could be a different stage of the same bug, I think there were two green ones previously. Additionally, today there was this visitor:I shooed this one off the leaf. Both bugs scurry around the leaf/stem when I was trying to take pictures of them. Are they friend or foe?