Beneficial Insects

[whiteberrieS]

Steinernema Feltiae

 

[wodi]

Following. Great thread, thanks for sharing

 

[ghostmade]

Awsome

 

[bigshrimp]

Its about that time of year you can find some roves floating on your open water barrels. First few weeks of spring around here they are always out...

 

[Dion]

do i need to do anything with th eventilation before releasing parasitic wasps?

will remove sticky traps, my intake and exhaust are coverd with pantyhose but what about the oscillating fan? will they need it off for a few days to settle in?

 

[Seaf0ur]

First, you'll want to maintain a ready supply of moisture by placing a shallow birdbath or small pans of water around the garden. Place stones to jut up above the surface of the water so adult wasps may land and drink without drowning.

Then, plant flowers to ensure the adult wasps have access to a continuous supply of pollen and nectar. Preferred food sources include alyssum, cilantro and other herbs from the dill family, and composite flowers such as daisies and asters.

heres something on parasitic wasps to read over...

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/parasitic-wasps

 

[Chunk O'Funk]

Great thread!

 

[Sam_Skunkman]

Phytoseiulus persimilis, Spider Mite Predators

Do you understand that these predators go into diapause (sleep and stop eating ) when the photo period is short during flowering? I toss a flowering plant with mites.
They are great under long photoperiods. I have used them for 40 years.... Mostly as a preventative as it is impossible to get rid of spider mites once you have them, you can maybe control them, but you need poisons to kill them all.
Do not use poisons during flowering, or even during veg. Keep prospective mothers isolated from all other plants, and take a very small rooted clone 6 inches or less and dip it in a systemic miticide three times a week apart. , then put in a mite free environment and grow big as a mother, take clean clones from it and grow them to flower.
-SamS

 

[Sam_Skunkman]

To control whiteflys use encarsia formosa, I have used them for 40 years, they can eliminate WF 100% if used correctly. I use them in a green house, a big greenhouse. I do also use ladybugs and lace wings but they are not as good at the job or as complete getting did of every one, the encarsia just home in on WF eggs and lay eggs in them. Problem gone, if done correctly. You can check the level of parasitization by holding leaves to a light and see what % of the WF eggs are white or black, you want them all black. Takes a few months to get rid of them, so use as a preventative, before you get a problem.
-SamS

Lacewings it is I was thinking about that last night - got a lil vac somewhere in the garage, it shall be found today. Parasites next week for the ongoing revenge.

I have spinosad Mike - whiteflies are the devil

View Image

I bet it was pretty gratifying SpreadHead - especially if you've ever watched the youtube vid of whiteflies laying eggs. It looks just like the Alien queen off the Alien movies so letting the Predator loose for some AVP action is very satisfying I bet.

 

[Dion]

First, you'll want to maintain a ready supply of moisture by placing a shallow birdbath or small pans of water around the garden. Place stones to jut up above the surface of the water so adult wasps may land and drink without drowning.

Then, plant flowers to ensure the adult wasps have access to a continuous supply of pollen and nectar. Preferred food sources include alyssum, cilantro and other herbs from the dill family, and composite flowers such as daisies and asters.

heres something on parasitic wasps to read over...

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/parasitic-wasps

cool tnx

so i wont need to turn off fans- yeah i got some spicy chillies in there with flowers can prob throw some herbs in as well

 

[Dion]

cool tnx

so i wont need to turn off fans- yeah i got some spicy chillies in there with flowers can prob throw some herbs in as well

sorry to harass this thread again

so once all the aphids r dead the wasp(Aphidius colemani) stop breeding?

ive had great succsess with getting rid of mites WF and aphids using benificials but this is the 1st time using wasps for aphids- have used aphid lions in the past- this time i released aphid lions but the aphid population was just starting up( came into the room with a plant from a friend) so i think they cannibalised before getting all the aphids as a week later the aphids were back and no lions to be seen

i see they have particular taste in flowers due to thier mouth so will prob have to bring another plant into the room to feed them( risky) but they also eat the nectar from aphid secretion right?

so basically if they rnt gonna be around after the aphids die i wont bother risking another plant coming in from outside- or if they wont live long enough to get all the aphids before dying i will( i run a 100% pest free sealed room- had no bugs for over a year until this plant brought some in)

any help is apreciated

 

[mexicani-ar]

I love the information I read here about these beneficial insects, i've read about some of them on a book from Ed Rosenthal, but they were not as detailed as the info and pic's I seen on this thread, thanks

 

[kasvi]

Can flying predatory insects used indoors? Dosen't they just fly out of my tent? If they normaly do, can they be kept inside the tent by planting living mulch that attracts predatory insects?

 

[BOMBAYCAT]

Very helpful post. Oh I am finding out why you hate perlite. I have to vacuum it up every time I check out the grow.

 

[VortexPower420]

Kavsi- yes and yes but they are still worth it.

Lady bugs you can spray with a light sugar solution to keep the wings stuck down so they don't fly for a while.

If you have food for them they should stay.

I usually have to do 2 or three applications of lady bugs. As soon as you see babies crawling around you should be good.

 

[Seaf0ur]

Can flying predatory insects used indoors? Dosen't they just fly out of my tent? If they normaly do, can they be kept inside the tent by planting living mulch that attracts predatory insects?

...

Kavsi- yes and yes but they are still worth it.

Lady bugs you can spray with a light sugar solution to keep the wings stuck down so they don't fly for a while.

If you have food for them they should stay.

I usually have to do 2 or three applications of lady bugs. As soon as you see babies crawling around you should be good.

This.

Things like rove beetles fly, yet have soil life stages and will stay.
Other predators will not stick around as easily. Spreading honeybee pollen can give predators an alternate food source to keep them around better...
However, they'll still fly off or into lights when allowed.

 

[kasvi]

Okey. I dont have source of lady bugs but I think that I will get Steinea feltiae, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius californicus, Hypoaspis aculeifer, Hypoaspis miles, Orius Majusculus, Orius Laevigatus, Atheta roriaria Aphelinus abdomanialis, Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi, Aphidius matricariae. Is this to much bugs? Is there even sometihng like that? lol. I will get some honeybee pollen also.

 

[Seaf0ur]

You should be aware, in order to be effective, predators are generally raised with their intended food.

Applying spider mite predators without having spider mites can actually give you spider mites.
Stratiolaelaps scimitus Womersley mites and Dalotia coriaria beetles are a good general starting point.

 

[kasvi]

Thank you for info. I think I wont order all of those after all. Just those that you suggested and Steinernema feltiae.

 

[psilocybevybe]

any sources for predatory insects here in oz?