Anybody here use beneficial bugs?

[Bromeo]

Anyone here use beneficial buggies? Lady bugs, praying mantis...etc? Only reason I ask is because when I started a little spring cleaning today I got bombed by these Asian lady beetles that we have here. A local farmer released about a billion of these little things years ago and they are now here to stay. I'm just wondering if being in a region saturated with these is why I never have any bug problems. Am I lucky for once? Here is a link to the buggies I'm talking about. We have clouds of them at times.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef416.asp
View attachment 192579

 

[The Dude]

Well Id say yeah thats great actually.But after reading the link I guess the only thing id wonder about is the yellow stuff from their legs and what it may do to any Fans leafs or flowers.shy of that I have some that look very very similar but dunno if they are the same here in MD.I bought some little Praying bugs last year just cuz.

 

[TheLittleBoyWhoPointed]

I collect and use ladybirds when they are around....they are great at maintaining a status quo and keeping bad bugs under control and stop them from getting a foothold in the grow.

Ladybirds can be stored in a container in the bottom vegetable crisper of the fridge for a few months....you can feed them with some chopped up sultana's or raisins also.

LB

 

[Bromeo]

I've never seen the yellow staining from them. They are impossible to keep out of homes. They love light fixtures. I'll let one or two in my tent but not often and they don't stay. I don't think they are huge fans of the led's

 

[The Dude]

hmmm well if nothing happened when a few got in, Id think and ofcourse hope that it would not be an issue.They said they put out the yellow stuff just prior to death so Id think all well with them.Worse comes to worse get some praying mantis.Or just nail em with Jacks Dead bug.Id think thatll work on em and its pretty easy on the plants n all that.I wonder if thats what we have here from time to time as well.Imma have to look about n see whats what.

 

[*headpiECE*]

Ladybugs are one of the best insects possible to have near plants...wish a farmer would let a million go around here, shit...:thumbs:

 

[wg]

I live in an old farm house, every year we get hundreds of Asian Lady Beetles in our house.. my wife isn't very fond of it so I capture them and put them in the grow room.. sometimes they die from lack of shade.. but they eat so many pests, all aphids.. whiteflies, fungus gnats..

 

[*headpiECE*]

I live in an old farm house, every year we get hundreds of Asian Lady Beetles in our house.. my wife isn't very fond of it so I capture them and put them in the grow room.. sometimes they die from lack of shade.. but they eat so many pests, all aphids.. whiteflies, fungus gnats..

SPIDER MITES!!!!! :ama:

You LED guys probably luck out in that dept...they will fly into an HPS and cook themselves with a quickness...best to release them right when the lights go out if running HPS cause 3/4 will be dead an hour after the lights go on unless cooltube etc...

 

[SmashedByHashish]

ladybirds...tigers of the insect world!

 

[TheLittleBoyWhoPointed]

spray the ladybirds with a 50/50 mix of sugary softdrink and water and it sticks their wings down for a few days so they hang around

an upturned orange half skin gives them a place to shelter also
LB