650gs'er

Im new, I suck, I dont know forum etiquette.... BUT i may have a new topic. Ladybugs. I havent found much information on this forum regarding the use of predator insects to defeat annoying leaf suckers. Please let me know if there are any threads regarding this topic for i will surely discontinue my input on the topic. If not behold today i released several hundred ladybugs into my grow room in hopes to thrwart the forward progression of sap sucking vermin. I will keep anyone interested posted....

milagro

What sort of critters will they be feeding on?



milagro

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alteredego

Here are a few good reads... not on this site, but on the web.

Ladybugs

Beneficial Insects

Garden Ladybugs

More Beneficial Insects

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650gs'er

To my best knowledge, mites.

buzzmobile

Ladybugs are not known as the best mite predators but they are better than nothing. They are much better at eating aphids. Without a food source on your plants ladybugs will not hang around. Good luck with them.

johnny-0

Im all ears!Let me know how hundreds of lady bugs in your grow room works out.

650gs'er

My wife and cats love them. I've been using an organic spray ANTI-PESTO, which works at keeping them at bay. So far I have noticed about the same results with the ladybugs. I can still find mites but not nearly as many. With that said I am hoping it progresses day by day. The only downfall is that a few of them have managed there way into my glass covered hood. Some have died but they sweep up easily off the floor.

650gs'er

Buzz, I've noticed that you promote the chemical method of removing mites. Its strange but I am very sensitive to any spray chemical, even the ANTI-PESTO irritated me. You may ask if smoke bothers me; a bit, so I vaporize my product to much success. Anyways, what about other preditory insects, there are other mites available that eat the sap sucking mites. Any luck with those? I really want a natural alterantive to managing my problem. I have a continious rotation of plants coming out of my system so until June when I move, Doing a full system cleaning is out of the picture.

As for the ladybugs, Im glad I didnt release the entire container, many have died in the grow room. Ive released a few more and the only thing I've noticed is that the ladybugs congregate in strange areas. So once a day i spend time "wrangling" them up and setting them back on the plants. So far I've noticed almost NO mites on the top side of the leaves. As for the bottom; the egg groups are still there so that means more mites sooner than later. I can only hope to keep the ranks of ladybugs well manned to deal with the next wave. I've has some luck soaking cotton balls in the NEEM oil based organic spray (ANIT-PESTO) then wiping the undersides of leaves.

War is never easy: casualties, excessive use of resources, and time are often an evil necessity.....



p.s. Never had mite issues until I swapped strains; will NOT be doing that again.

buzzmobile

Yes I do recommend Avid for killing mites. Spider mites are the ONE pest which need such a drastic control measure. They can wreck a grow room if allowed to get a population established. If you are sensitive to chemical sprays then predatory mites would be a viable option for control. I have not used them. pearl is one of our members who has had success with predatory mites. He has used a package of three different types of predator mites.

It is important to identify the type of spider mite that is infesting your plants before ordering predators. Some are specific to individual species of mites. It is also important to maintain the proper environment (particularly humidity and temperature ranges) in the grow room in order for the predators to survive long enough to do their job.

This link is a good source for learning about predator mites.

louiebudwizer

i have had real bad infestations with mites and tried all the safer sprays and oils on the market and couldnt get rid of them.
also tried pretdator mites and such with no luck dont know if they ever lived or did anything at all and they are very expensive.
so i tried ladybugs over the past few times and cant find a mite any where on anything
they are cheap, safe,and i can tell if they are working the plants for food.when they start to die off it seems to be from a lack of food better them than plants that have taken lots of time and money.
one big draw back is if they can get on top of a hot bulb or hood the smell is really bad if you dont have a good filter. trust me i know i let 1000 or so go in a room my first time the smell of cooking ladybugs is not good.
if you can get past the smell you got her licked.