Author Topic: lady bird larvae as pest control ? (Read 4765 times)

manicscousers · « **on:** June 08, 2008, 21:39:59 »

just ordered 50 of these to help control greenfly in the poly,been looking around and can't find any ladybirds anywhere, however, my sweet potatoes and peppers are full of the flippin' things, , greenfly, not ladybirds..anyway, what the hell, ordered, anyone used them ?

OllieC · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2008, 07:51:18 »

I ordered some ladybirds a few years ago, opened up the tub, poured them out, and watched the fly away! You should have more luck with their wingless kiddies, and in a GH!

grawrc · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2008, 14:03:27 »

Sounds like a good idea. Where do you get them from?

Rhubarb Thrasher · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2008, 14:35:37 »

it's a myth. I've never seen a ladybird ever eat a blackfly. They're either sunning themselves on a leaf, or else they're erm procreating

manicscousers · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2008, 14:53:37 »

Quote from: grawrc on June 09, 2008, 14:03:27

Sounds like a good idea. Where do you get them from?

jon@greengardener.co.uk
googled for it ;D

Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on June 09, 2008, 14:35:37

it's a myth. I've never seen a ladybird ever eat a blackfly. They're either sunning themselves on a leaf, or else they're erm procreating

have you never put a ladybird on a pepper plant full of greenfly ?
I have and it's very satisfying watching them munch ;D
and these are the larvae :)

Rhubarb Thrasher · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2008, 15:01:50 »

I put one next to a load of blackfly on the stem of a parsnip leaf ??? yesterday. Wasn't interested

manicscousers · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2008, 15:03:46 »

must've been too full of greenfly ;D

shirlton · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2008, 19:33:43 »

or they don't like being watched eh!

OllieC · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2008, 19:39:42 »

Well, there is the old saying, "A watched Ladybird never eats"...

ceres · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2008, 19:43:40 »

I was watching the larvae on a friend's broad beans today and they were hoovering the blackfly up. I think she has all the larvae on our site - I've never seen them on my plot :(

Eristic · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2008, 22:41:46 »

I use them for aphid control all the time but have never bought any. Once ladybirds get established on broad beans it takes 7-10 days for them to clean up an infested crop so it pays to start at the first sign of trouble.

Aphids had started to flare up in the polytunnel on my chillis and 2 weeks ago it was hard to find any ladybirds or larvae for some reason but with the warmer weather I now think I have the polytunnel under control.

manicscousers · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2008, 09:10:12 »

went around the site again yesterday looking for some, not 1 :(
anyway, the others are due tomorrow, can't have too many ;D
just realised some of the people have been spraying their broadies, maybe they got the ladybirds too >:(

Rhubarb Thrasher · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2008, 09:34:23 »

Quote from: OllieC on June 09, 2008, 19:39:42

Well, there is the old saying, "A watched Ladybird never eats"...

you just made that up! Well they've got til Saturday to buck their ideas up, or I take Executive Action on the blackfly front

OllieC · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2008, 19:40:40 »

Yes, I did. :-[ caught, haha! ;D !!

But, more interestingly, I have a picture for you that I guarantee was not tampered with...

OllieC · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2008, 21:01:30 »

Taken a couple of weeks ago - and I promise I didn't put him there... I suppose he could just be having a chat!

shirlton · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2008, 19:11:30 »

Tony just looked at the pic and said "ours are more interested in sex"

manicscousers · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2008, 19:49:18 »

well, don't know what the hell they've sent me..the bottle says adaline b, adalia bipunctata, aphid predators, 50 larvae
there are approx 500 seed like pods in the bottle, it says in the instructions..place a couple of larvae around the plants with aphids..no sign of a larvae anywhere,
I've sprinkled them around under the plants in case they're eggs or lacewing eggs and e mailed the company to ask what I've got, be my luck they're dock seeds ;D

grawrc · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2008, 19:57:22 »

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

shirlton · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2008, 08:48:12 »

Just had a look on google and they are ladybirds

manicscousers · « **Reply #19 on:** June 12, 2008, 08:57:40 »

I know the name is but these look like seed pods, googled ladybird eggs and they deffo don't look like them ???
bit blurred

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Author Topic: lady bird larvae as pest control ? (Read 4765 times)