Pint sized Predators; Ladybugs and Lacewing Flies

My mini schnauzer loves to search the strawberries and Raspberries for ripe tasty treats. We have tried but there is no use keeping her out. She goes outside and works her way through the bushes trying to find the ripe strawberries and raspberries. This is where we discovered we had an issue in the garden. She has been coming in the house with her head covered in leaf hoppers and aphid. This means I have two issues not only do I not want the bugs in my house clinging to my dog, but they will also damage my plants. I don’t want to be washing my dog constantly, but these types of pests are difficult to get rid of out of your garden.

Pesticides are not a good idea because the dogs will not listen and they will continue to eat the fruit or go in the areas I apply it. Also a lot of the pesticides don’t work on them and often kill benefical insects In the process. So how do I fix the problem without hurting the dogs...release the predators into the garden that kill aphids, leaf hoppers, whiteflies, mites, thrips, moths, and caterpillars.

These predators can eat 50 aphids or whiteflies a day. What are these predators and will not they be just as big an nuisance. No, they are Ladybugs and Lacewing flies. Either works but together they are an awesome team.

By introducing ladybugs into your garden they take care of your pests with no side effects other than having cute little ladybugs. They are pint size predators of your garden which do not hurt your plants, but devour the pests that do hurt your garden. You also get cute little ladybugs flying around your garden.

How did I find out about this pest solution? The Smithsonian Gardens. I watched a show about the garden and their garden techniques. They are organic farmers and stay away from toxins to treat issues and have found that the best remedy is beneficial insects. Ladybugs and lacewing flies are beneficial insects.

It also turns out that if you just asked you local garden center they knew this information all along. I walked into the local store today and asked if they had ladybug. They pointed me to the drink cooler by check out. No drinks inside but containers of ladybugs The lady bugs sleep when they are cold and as we drove home they became really active. I again put them in our refrigerator until it was time to release.

To help ladybugs settle into your garden you need to release them in the evening after you have dampened the area by watering. It is a simple process. We turned on the drip line for about 15 minutes and then sprayed down the area with the hose. We opened the container and pulled out the lacewing egg container. We sprinkled the ladybugs and Wood chips them onto the plants. We then opened the lacewing container and sprinkle the eggs in the garden.

The ladybugs do not work at night so they will find a place to sleep and start looking for food in the morning. As my pests are all taken care of they will move to the neighboring yards.