The Helpful Green Lacewing

Steven Ash shows how to use green lacewings to your garden’s advantage

greenish lacewings are slim , bright , green - bodied flies that have massive appetites and practice their big , sickle - influence mouthpart to consume gentle - bodied insects likeaphids , thrips , white flies , and spider pinch , as well as small caterpillars , louse egg , and many other pest species . They are delicate but verybeneficialto the garden . These insects are common in the spring , summertime , and fall season . Natural marauder that will rust anything they get , they can decrease moderate aphid infestations as well as help insure many other pests . The better part about these louse is that they do not affect plant life wellness , nor do they bite or sting . In this video , plantsman Steven Ash excuse the advantages of having green lacewings in your garden .

Tips for purchasing and releasing these beneficial insects

lacewing fly are uncommitted to purchase at many reputable garden centers . Generally , you ’ll rule egg you’re able to grease one’s palms in majority or glued to a little wit you’re able to hang onto a plant . When the eggs incubate , the lacewing larvae will begin run on aphid or other soft - bodied insects .

pornographic green lacewing fly feed on pollen and nectar from plants such as sweet alyssum ( Lobularia maritima , Zones 5–9 ) . They ’ll also feed on honeydew ( bring on by aphid ) .

When releasing bulk lacewing fly eggs , take some of the eggs and tap them onto a 3×5 card . deposit the batting order among your plants . If you have a board that already contains ballock , simply wedge it into the plant life . As they hatch , the larvae will crawl out onto the plants and take in the flabby - bodied pestilence .

Things to keep in mind before releasing lacewings

Aphids and other honeydew melon - producing pest insects are often protected by ants , so if you do n’t contain the ant population , the ants will pop the lacewing larvae and eat the eggs . If you do n’t have a garden center nearby that carry good insects for sales agreement , you could order lacewings ( and more ) from online sources . Lacewings are ordinarily sell as eggs , but you may also be capable to purchase larvae . If corrupt larvae , you could place them decent on the plant next to the settlement they ’re going to be flow on and watch them finally colonise the garden . Once they reach adulthood , the lacewings will pop put down the eggs in aphid colonies , thereby repeating the pest - control process all over .

This video is a appurtenance to the 2013 edition ofCommon Sense Pest Controlfrom Taunton Press .

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