Subject: Re: toad's favorite foods?
From: Hester Lyons <Hester@boddam.demon.co.uk>
Organization: chez fungus
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 20:03:04 +0000
Message-ID: <MOD$980106.7816@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980105.18672@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
In article <MOD$980105.18672@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, SharonR899
writes
>
>If I find and keep a toad in my garden--will it eat beneficial insects like
>ladybugs also?
>
>Sharon
>---------------------------------------
>Sharon Reid Harris
>
>Nancy Drew! Trixie Belden! Penny Parrish!
>Read about your favorite girls' series
>http://members.aol.com/biblioholc/gseries.html
>
I don't know about other insects, but ladybirds are very unlikely to be
eaten as they extrude a horrible, smelly, bitter, yellow substance when
hassled, which is enough to discourage any predator (hence the bright
red/black 'danger' colouration of their shields). It is very likely that
your toad will eat grubs and worms but in a healthy garden this should
not be a problem, as there should be more than enough of these in your
soil. You will probably find your slugs are more affected than anything
else!
Make sure you have a place for it to hide - a pile of old leaves, or a
compost heap - and it should be quite happy.
--
Hester Lyons