GOOD BUGS TO THE RESCUE
Not all insects are pests. Some actually make perfect pets for the gardener! They will not damage plants,
only the insects that damage plants. This bio-control is known as Integrated Pest Management, and beneficial
insects are an important component.
We can make our gardens friendly to their habitats such as planting perennials that provide a place to lay
eggs and give shelter - yarrow, fennel, daisy, baby's breath, parsley and many others. Allowing for a grass path
will provide a home for ground beetles, and a birdbath or water feature with a perch of rock or stick will help
keep them around during dry weather.
What you want to create is the proper balance by increasing the numbers of predators to prey and
use only organic and nontoxic garden products like insecticidal soaps and sticky traps. Don't wait for a
pest problem to be out of control. Plan for your good bugs to the rescue before the potential
problem occurs!
Create a favorable home for your Beneficials ahead of time…
Reminder-- Beneficial Insects don't tolerate most pesticides very well, so it's very important not to apply
residual pesticides (such as Malathion and Sevin) for at least a month before releasing your beneficials. While
you're waiting out this month period, use soapy water sprays (such as Safers) or Sticky Traps right up to the day
you let out the beneficials. Also, botanical sprays (derived from Pyrethrum and Rotenone, for example) can be
used with a one week wait afterwards. The small amount of time you spend creating more favorable conditions
for Beneficial Insects will be well worth your while!
Let the Good Bugs clean up your pests and have fun watching them!
Alias Mrs. Charley
THESE ARE SOME OF THE GOOD GUYS!!!_________________________________________________________________________________________________
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Article is courtesy of Charley's Greenhouse & Garden 17979 SR 536 Mt Vernon, WA
800-322-4707 or Email - )
Typically, Ladybugs eat over 5,000 Aphids and other soft-bodied pests during
their one year life. Ladybugs are one of the few beneficial insects that can be
stored, dormant, in the refrigerator for a few weeks, as long as they don't freeze or
dry out. This allows you to use a few at a time, as needed.
Tiny Whitefly Parasites lay their eggs inside Whitefly pupae, so a Whitefly
Parasite hatches instead of a Whitefly. You'll need a magnifier to see them, but
they spell death for greenhouse Whiteflies.
Predatory Mites feed on Spider Mites and their eggs; they also breed twice as
fast! Each Spider Mite Predator sucks the juice out of about 5 Spider Mites a day,
or 20 of their eggs. Predators disappear when the Spider Mites are gone.
Aphid Predators have worked so well in many greenhouses, that, by summer,
Aphids may be hard to even find. Breeding populations of predators are usually
established from a single release, but regular weekly releases during the growing
season speeds up control.
Green Lacewing larvae look like tiny "alligators", and voraciously attack almost
any prey they can grab, using pincer-like jaws. After injecting a paralyzing venom,
they suck the body fluids from their helpless victim.
Praying Mantis are not only fun garden pets, but they eat anything and everything
they can catch! Praying Mantis constantly entertains while they eat insects all
summer long.