Beneficial Insects

calico20hill · 2023-03-04T23:48:26+00:00

Thinking ahead to full bloom time, and topic of beneficial insects that eat the insects that damage our blooms....Has anyone tried interplanting dahlias wi...

PegMc

Thanks for that share, NCDahlia! I discovered, quite by accident, that alfalfa pellets work for Japanese Beetles. I had a large order of Bearded Iris to plant and I use alfalfa pellets when planting. I had a plastic tub refilled with the pellets when a surprise torrential rain shower hit, so I grabbed up what I could and ran. I was slow to get back out there, but when I did I discovered Japanese Beetles floating all over the top of that tub!

Juliarugula

NCDahlia I’ve always hesitated to spend the money on milky spore because I live in a suburbanish neighborhood where all the lots are no more than a half acre. Seems like even if I take care of the grubs growing in my yard, there will be plenty from the neighbors.

Do you live further from other yards, or do you still feel it helps?

NCDahlia

Juliarugula I live like a stones throw from others like 100 yards. I am in an HOA. I will sometimes get them from the neighbors but it's not many. They can not lay the eggs because the spores kill all the grubs thus no new japanese beetles can hatch in the spring. I still get some but its nothing like I had 3 years ago and this is with still planting on the other side of my property runner green beans which the beetles love to decimate the leaves of beans.

I view it as good stuff. I try to do more organic and not a ton of pesticides. Also I am already spending a few 100 $ on new dahlias each year (lol) so I think having the other stuff helps cut down on the problem.

Emilyp

Krista I release them once I have an established area for them to live, once I have blooms and cover. I also stagger them, so that they don't eat each other immediately.

Krista

Emilyp Oh this is very helpful! It wouldn't have occurred to me that my beneficials might eat each other!

AKWindWatcher

A few of us are all getting together and buying a bunch of green lacewings this year. They're native to AK so I wouldn't be introducing something that's not here. We have to overnight them - which is spendy to AK - but split 4 ways it's not too bad. I'm also rather intrigued by the whole BRIX idea. I know some growers who swear by it. I figure I'd give it a shot. I don't, knock on wood, usually have too many issues with pests (aside from slugs) which is good because it's hard to spray even the pollinator friendly treatments at the height of summer. They say to do it when the critters aren't active - like at night - but when it's light all the time it's hard to find a time they're not active.

MissyWeitzel

AKWindWatcher I can't wait to talk to you about it this summer to see if we notice any difference in pest pressure. I'm looking forward to trying a lot of new things this season. First thing I want to try is making my own compost tea. My husband bought me a fancy backpack sprayer last season and I feel like I could be in Ghostbusters when I use it, so I love any reason to spray my plants! 😅

Krista

Other than beneficial nematodes, releasing beneficials to combat pests is new to me in the garden. I’d always assumed releasing flying insects in an outdoor garden space would be rather futile.

That being said, I was beginning to discover what I believed to be thrips, although I’ve never identified them before. Yesterday I released 500 adult Orius insidiosus and it seems like overnight my pest trouble disappeared! I’m shocked and feeling relieved at how quickly they went to work!

KitCMC

Krista Where did you source them? Did they get shipped to you?

Emilyp

Minute Pirate bugs are the best! Although they occasionally give me a nip here and there, they are so good at getting rid of the bad guys, that I don't mind.

Krista

KitCMC I ordered from Sound Horticulture and hooray, yes, they shipped! For just shy of $15 shipping, these arrived cozied into a box with two little cooler packs in a little plastic jar with a vented lid. Because these were live, timing of ordering to shipping was specific, but they offer a variety of bugs, and some can be released via sachets or egg cards so there are some options depending on what you’re looking for.

KitCMC

Krista thanks, Krista!

Emilyp

I get them fro Greenmethods.com, it is the site to buy smaller quantities directly from Benificial Insectary. I buy them from the insectary instead of a reseller like Arbico. I like my bugs super fresh 😆

KitCMC

Emilyp sounds like a great resource! Thank you!

dahlia1972

Emilyp Do the lacewings eat the pirate bugs or vice versa?

Emilyp

I think it can go both ways, as they are both generalist predators.

MissyWeitzel

I released minute pirate bugs 6 days ago, and I don't want to jinx it, but I haven't seen a thrip since. I only noticed I had them on my petunias and a couple lighter colored collarettes but I'm sure there were some elsewhere. I have an issue with tarnished plant bugs and the minute pirate bugs are supposed to eat all juvenile stages of those. Since releasing them, I haven't seen an adult either! They also eat spider mites. It's probably too early to really tell, but I'm definitely encouraged. After Japanese beetle season is over, my main pests are spider mites, thrips and TPBs. If the pirate bugs work, I may not have to spray anything except fertilizer and fungicides! 🥳🥳🥳

Juliarugula

MissyWeitzel when does Japanese beetle season end (for us in the upper Midwest)? I can’t remember. I’ve hardly seen any this year, but I’m afraid as soon as I take a break from bagging they’ll find me…

MissyWeitzel

Juliarugula check this! Enter your zip code up top then choose Japanese beetles on the right.
https://gddtracker.msu.edu/?model=11&offset=0&zip=49323

Teddahlia

We do not have Japanese beetles in the PNW. We do have lots of slugs and snails.

drewtheflorist

Teddahlia I can send you some to play with if you'd like

Juliarugula

MissyWeitzel cool thanks!

Looks like we’ve got a while though…

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