Anybody here use beneficial bugs?

[The Dude]

Yeah they had or may STILL have on Amazon I believe,1,500 ladybugs for like 10 bucks or less.I may buy them this mid spring just to let loose in me yard.And if I can find them locally or anywhere Ill get some praying mantis too.


View attachment 192600 <<<<Feelin the love fer da bugs man!!

 

[stanko]

They will stay around as long as there is food for them to eat, once the food source has gone they will go looking else where. use a mosquito net so they don't fly away then hoover them up and put them in the freezer till you need them for next time.

 

[The Dude]

Oh yeah man.I live in the woods on like well over 20+ acres n there is quite a bit O food.

 

[X]

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

You can order them from Home Depot over the net only. They're cheap and they get there fast. I spread them all over my yard and garden a couple times a year. I have also put them in my cab when I had a 600wHID in there... I never had any problems over with them dying from it.

Most of them will disappear from the yard quickly. As stated earlier, they will be there in sufficient numbers so long as there are pests to eat.

 

[A4]

I purchased ladybugs a few years ago and they are everywhere now. Best bugs in the world for anyone that wants to garden with minimum pesticides. I have probably 50 or more in my tent, not on purpose, they just tend to like the warm weather and the plants. If you have them, be thankful. They are really wonderful at eating the pests.
A4

 

[Captain Howdy]

Hey folks,

Have been struck with dreaded spider mites once myself and I'm just in the process of setting up a new grow and I'm taking every precaution.

Ladybirds (or bugs depending where you are) have been my first choice to have on standby but while reading back on the old posts I see a Praying Mantis would work as well.

Can both of these plant guards be used in an indoor grow room or are they an outdoor thing, also, whats the Mantis' diet consist of? Do they eat the little mites just like the LB or are they for controlling another pest.

I'm in the uk but a local pet store always has Praying Mantis' in so they would actually be easier for me to buy than Ladybirds/bugs.

Again, this is going to be for indoors and I don't want to use any chemicals at all in the grow so pesticides of the sort are out of the question.

Thanks in advance for replies folks.

Peace.


Buy the ticket, take the ride :howdy:

 

[Bromeo]

You can use them indoors to. The lady beetles will stick around as long as there is heat and food. Orange peels work great. Mantis I'm not to sure. I mean where I am they are everywhere. In and out of the house. I don't like catching them cause the little bastards bite like mad man.

 

[Mr Piggy]

Just be careful about releasing insects into your yard, you don't want to introduce an invasive species by accident. Here in oregon people have been releasing virginia mantis eggs for a long time and guess what is all over now? Remember when planting or releasing things outside, you have a responsibility not to be the next zebra mussel incident.

 

[The Dude]

As far as I know Mantis will stick around for a certain amount of time until they reach a certain age n then they go Walkabout man.LOL!I did not know that about Virginia Mantis in orgeon.Daaaang.ya I try to only use bugs that are within a reasonable range for my area(s).

 

[Captain Howdy]

From what I've found out only a very young mantis would bother trying to eat spider mites, they prefer something with a bit more meat.

Just in case anyone State-side is reading this, I came across this useful website for ordering Beneficial bugs, unfortunately for me I'm in the UK so I may just have to go on a Ladybird hunt in the woods and bring some home.

http://www.buglogical.com/index.php?p=home

Thanks for the replies folks.