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Post by lenynero on Apr 27, 2010 9:53:26 GMT -5
Another methods of getting rid of those nasty pests... is to get a meaner nastier pest to come over and kick it's bug butt! Nematodes and predatory mites are just the ticket for getting rid of thrips, whiteflies, aphids and other mites. Nematodes are tiny worms that look alot like the tiny worms you see in your soil if you have fungus gnats. Except these nemotodes will eat your fungus gnats. Nematodes work in the soil and stop one or two lifecycles of most pests that pupate or hang out in your media. The predatory mites are usually more active on the leaves and will hunt down wandering insects. Some predatory mites also like to consume pollen..... so make sure you know what type ya need. Here are 2 locations in Canada that will ship you bugs thebugfactory.ca/shop/index.phpwww.natural-insect-control.com/I would recommend the following Steinernema feltiae nematodes (wide range killer of regular nasties and this is what I am currently using) Hypoaspis Mites Both take care of multiple species including thrips! Don't bug me! ;D Leny
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Post by dvg on Apr 27, 2010 11:47:17 GMT -5
Another methods of getting rid of those nasty pests... is to get a meaner nastier pest to come over and kick it's bug butt! Leny Bigger, badder bugs strong-arming those punk pests for their lunch money...gotta luv that ;D
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Post by H2O on Apr 27, 2010 13:16:18 GMT -5
That’s cool that your using Bios lenynero. My program coordinator is an entomologist and put a huge emphasis on IPM and biologicals. We've had several classes just on the biologicals and IPM. I would love to hear more about your experiences with Bios. Do you know where those sites are getting their bios from? I'm pretty excited people are interested in this
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Post by sherkas on Apr 27, 2010 22:27:03 GMT -5
A little late but good news none the less. I once had a infestation of red spider mites and bought some predator mites that easily curbed the spiders. Now ive had an unknown source of thrips (most likley from my mimosa I refused to toss after it got infected somehow) and its currently spred to about 40 passiflora plants I have. Ive soaped them a few times and cant rid this pest. I see that this place has a thrips destroyer and I might have to get some of that because I think im losing this thrips war =\.
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Post by lloyd on Apr 27, 2010 22:52:39 GMT -5
The Neem recipe will not kill thrips completely but I have used it to control them so the plants seem to develop an immunity and recover.
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Post by prmills on Apr 28, 2010 0:40:44 GMT -5
I know this isn't natural control, but I had thrips on my african violets and was told one of the few things out there is Schultz Houseplant and Garden Insect Spray, and it's safe on the fussy plants too. I use it and it works. I havn't tried it for any other bug though it says it works on a whole bunch.
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Post by sherkas on Apr 28, 2010 8:09:50 GMT -5
Ive soaped twice and used neem oil twice (2 weeks or so).
I usually soap + wash then the next day neem oil them for about a week then repeat. The populations are SLOWLY getting bigger. It does kill them if they get out of hand but they arn't going away. Thats why I say i have it under control but as of last night my plants are still infected after the latest soap + neem and I cant seem to rid them completely. I could try a higher neem % but im scared it will wreck the plants.
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Post by dvg on Apr 28, 2010 23:35:23 GMT -5
Though I did hatch out a preying mantis ooth one time, I haven't yet had the need to order any beneficial insects. But that time might come as it would be interesting to see them in action.
I don't use chemicals and poisons to rid my plants of pests. Thus far I have been quite fortunate and only use Neem oil as a preventative on the rare occasion.
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Post by H2O on Apr 29, 2010 4:56:47 GMT -5
So I take it your pixie dust is organic?
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Post by lenynero on Apr 29, 2010 8:11:08 GMT -5
So I take it your pixie dust is organic? Pixie dust from fair trade forests with properly sponsored stewardship are indeed deemed as organic.... the stuff they sell at Disney is in fact synthetic and harmful not only to bugs but to brownies and leprechauns.
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Post by tom on Apr 29, 2010 9:06:35 GMT -5
hahahaha! We could bring a whole organic 'filiere' for this and open an eBay store
Disclaimers: 'No pixies has been harmed or exploited for the production of the dust. They have been allowed to roam freely in our forest and fed with organic sun rays and lighters colored parts of spring rainbows.'
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Post by tom on Apr 29, 2010 9:23:30 GMT -5
speaking of neem oil, i'm looking for a good/cheap source, as i have depleted my bottle. Any suggestions?
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Post by dvg on Apr 29, 2010 16:07:01 GMT -5
Okay, that made me laugh hard!
Tom go to your local hydroponics store and buy it in bulk. It's quite a bit cheaper that way. And you might be able to rebottle it into smaller portions and split the cost with someone closeby to you.
dvg
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Post by ingenia on Aug 16, 2011 10:25:33 GMT -5
I was just going to post something here about NIC but lo and behold, here it is already. They were recommended to me by a customer of mine who has had good success with their mantids - I have out of control squash bugs in an organic community garden that need a little strong-arming. I ordered on Friday night and recieved them this morning via courier. I'm a bit late in the season for hatching them so we'll see how it goes. (Because I'm late I got 2 egg cases for the price of 1! Woohoo!)
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Post by dvg on Aug 16, 2011 14:08:41 GMT -5
Ingenia, because it is later on in the growing season, it might be a good idea to hatch the mantids indoors, inside a sealed container, and then release them onto the garden plants, once they have hatched.
The year that i bought the mantid ooth (egg case) it sat out in our garden for weeks without hatching out any mantids.
It got to the point where i was wondering if it would ever hatch, so i brought the egg case indoors and misted it once or twice.
Within a day or two. the eggs hatched and i released the baby mantids outdoors.
dvg
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