Leaving aphids alone to help encourage a crop of ladybugs for the future.

  • wilted_whisperer@mander.xyz
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    11 days ago

    So will these ladybugs go away or die off come winter time or will they hang around and benefit your garden for years to come? Same question for the aphids, I guess.

    • Renorc@lemmy.worldOP
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      11 days ago

      I’m in US zone 7b so we usually get a winter with snow and sub freezing temperatures December-March. Both aphids and ladybugs will die off during winter but leave eggs that remain and hatch in the spring. Each year I supplement the natural occurring ladybugs and usually release approximately 3000 when the aphids appear. That sounds like a lot but it’s only two small containers. I rely on the ladybugs for pest control and never use insecticides as I want a natural ecosystem to flourish. Most years it works out and my garden remains healthy. Right now the aphids are ravishing my beets and poppies. Fingers crossed the ladybugs will triumph and reign in the aphids before I lose too many plants. Soon these ladybugs will lay eggs (during summer) and the resulting larva will do most of the work. The larva look like small six legged alligators and you can observe them picking up aphids and eating them. It’s fascinating to watch.

        • Renorc@lemmy.worldOP
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          11 days ago

          Sometimes Amazon or garden supply websites. This year my local nursery had them in stock when the aphids showed up. I prefer to buy them locally when possible.

  • dumples@piefed.social
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    11 days ago

    I have a nice wild section that I leave untouched to allow the lady bugs and other predator to feast on whatever insects are attacking my wildflowers. The garden has never looked better