I've had some problems with aphids in my garden. My whirling butterfly bush has not bloomed since late spring (though the foliage is doing well). I reached in the middle of it a few weeks ago to pull out a weed and pulled out an arm covered in aphids. I also noticed some aphid webbing (the white stuff) on a few other plants. I purchased 300 ladybugs two nights ago and released them in the evening on a wet garden as recommended. At first they seemed really happy and some of them even started mating. I haven't been able to find any since. It was like they all disappeared the next day. I even looked inside the gaura and in other plants and don't see them. Do they go underground in the heat of the summer day and come out only at night? I tried to find some info on their daily habits but could only find info on their lifecycle. I did find a bunch of dead ones but there were quite a few that were already dead in the container which isn't unusual. Does anybody have any ideas?
Ladybugs
Looking forward to the answer: I had the same issue with my ladybug supply I put out.
I bought lady bugs once and the same thing happened, I gess it is a big shock to them when they are released from the refrigerator.
Josephine.
ugh, I want to get rid of these aphids...I really LOVE my whirling butterfly bush but haven't had blooms in a couple of months!
Huh, I didn't buy mine refridgerated? I got them at Home Depot with about 20% already dead in the mesh bag.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/578689/
If you want to get rid of aphids soap spray is the beast thing.
Put about a tablespoon if dishwashing liquid in a quart of water and spray then with that, it kills then, they turn black.
If the area is too large to spray by hand, put some of the liquid soap in one of those hose sprayers and that goes a lot faster. Be sure to get the underside of the leaves and the stems.
You may have to apply a second time, but that will get rid of them without poisons.
Good luck.
Josephine.
Thanks Josephine...I should have known you'd have the answer! (wink!)
You are welcome, glad to be of help.
I wouldn't buy ladybugs from Home Depot. A big chain store like that is bound to overlook proper care of the insects. As for them leaving, I had a similar problem, but as I looked day after day, I began to find more of them, and after about 7 days, I began to see the larvae everywhere. I bought 1,750 of them for a small, backyard garden and released them all at once, only reading later that you can keep them in the fridge for up to a month and release them a little at a time. It was overkill, but I was still left with only a few as far as I can see. Next time I would release a few at a time over a little while. Also, if you use any kind of bug repellent, even an organic one like soap or citronella, I think that can drive them off. Just a guess though. Good luck:)
I use Dr. Bronner's soap, but soap will kill ladybugs as well as aphids, I've heard, so be careful.
I got some at HD last year. Never again. I've heard they never hang around. They sure didn't for me. I read somewhere and I can't remember where that if you'll spray some sugar water around the edge of your yard, it will attract them. I tried, and did see one on the weeping willow, so they're around.
I am very strongly opposed to release of non-native insects or other organisms as a form of "organic" gardening. People mean well, but this is about as far from organic as you can get. Commercial ladybugs are collected by the tens of millions from California mountain forests where they overwinter. I have no idea of the damage to their natural populations, but I doubt that it's good for them. The vast majority die in transit, and those that do survive have the potential to replace species native to other parts of the country. There used to be native praying mantises in the U.S.; now what you usually see are Asian species that are propagated for the "organic" trade. It's amazing how much money you can make by sticking the label "organic" or "natural" on a product, especially a live product.
I'd rather see a pesticide used that breaks down fairly quickly, instead of wiping out native organisms by replacing them with non-native species. The best approach is to attract native predators, which will happen if you leave the garden more or less alone and use plants that are tough in your area. BTW, as others have suggested, aphids usually are pretty easy to wash off with a hose, or with a dilute solution of Ivory soap (pretty organic). Don't spray the soap all over though, or you'll wipe out the beneficial predators too.