kruseman

ok,
I have used neem oil, Safers Soap, A few homemade remedies but still have been losing the battle with Thrips. My humidity has been much higher latley causing them to propagate faster. I feel my only option is to get predator bugs. I have a large veg room with 4-5'+ Mazar mothers and a 4' Widow mother. I have around 80 plants in around 1' in hieght. I also have about 100 rooted clones in 1" rockwool cubes in my propagation flood table. Along with all this is my bubbler project currently in progress.
I am psoting all of the above to give you the scale I am working with so you have a better understanding of my problem. I am not just treating a few plants. I have found it quite hard to hit the entire plant with the sprays and feel I can not keep up with their reproduction there is so many. I thought they were under control for awhile but recently learned they stay pretty dormant in the colder weather. I also learned that they live in your medium, be soil, rockwool even just clay pebbles. Little buggers been hybernating in my medium waiting for the right weather to come out

Any how the long drawn out question is has any one had or know of experience with predator bugs? This is what I know about predator bugs;

Most Thrips move down into soil, rockwool or other synthetic growing media to pupate. This is the first stage at which to control Thrip populations, using Predator Nematodes. Often after two months, regular application of Nematodes alone gives good control. However, for heavy or persistent infestations, we recommend using Nematodes in conjunction with above-ground controls. Your choice will depend largely on the environment in your growing area.
Thrips Predator Mites (Amblyseius cucumeris) are most effective under conditions of 70-85% humidity, against all species of Thrips. They will also eat an occasional Spider Mite, and other small pests. However, reports have been poor in low humidity environments, so use these predators in greenhouse and other interior locations with high humidity levels only.
Ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens) eat over 5,000 Aphids and other soft-bodied pests during their one-year lifetime. Ladybugs are one of the few beneficial insects that can be stored, dormant, in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks, depending on the time of year, as long as they don't freeze or dry out. This allows you to use a few at a time, as needed.
Pirate Bugs-The newest Thrips control, Pirate Bugs (Orius insidiosis) also eat Spider Mites, insect eggs, aphids, and small caterpillars. Shipped as nymphs near hatching or adults ready to use (no choice).
Green Lacewing Larvae/Eggs-Looking like tiny alligators, Lacewing larvae (Chrysopa rufilabris) voraciously attack almost any prey they can grab.
Praying Mantis-Fun garden pets, Mantids eat anything & everything they can catch! Praying Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) make wonderful backyard pets, and constantly entertain while they eat insects all Summer long.

These are the main predatory bugs that I found. I have researched them all but was looking for actual experience if any? Or any one with the experteez knowledge of predatory bugs and the effects? Due to the size of my garden and the scale of the thrips would this be the best alternative?

Thanks for any help and responses!
Later

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Peace.......
kruseman.........aka*HOG

buzzmobile

I have not had to deal with Thrips. I have tried several critters in my battle with whiteflies. They have included Praying mantids, Ladybugs, Delphastus beetles. They have given spotty control at best. The trick is to have enough of their prey available and to maintain the conditions in the grow room that the predators need to survive.

Blue sticky traps are recommended for monitoring adult populations. I use yellow for attracting Whiteflies and they are very effective. Your facing a tough adversary and you are more than likely going to battle a population for quite some time. Be aware also that residue from pesticide already applied may adversely affect your predator insects as well.

Diatomaceous earth dusted on the soil surface and leaves is another control that may help too, but again it may also kill predators. If you are determined to use predators, the Nematodes and Predator Mites would be the tandem I would choose. Success may have to be measured in keeping the Thrip population reduced to non-damaging numbers rather than complete annihilation of the population.

Good luck and I'd be interested in hearing the results of your battle.

buzzmobile

LittleBoNg

Since predator bugs are relatively cheap anyways theres no reason not to give it a shot. I'd say go for ladybugs and predator mites... Ladybugs are vicious insect killers but won't touch your plants and are very cheap (search google and first ad is 1,500 ladybugs for $6.99). Anyways good luck man.

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NO925

Hi all been doing alot of reading on here tonight any way i have a room about 10x7 with 32 plants i just clicked. I had a feeling i had mites because i seen a bug a week or 2 ago so i baught some NEW ZEALAND PHTOSEIULUS PERSIMILIS predators then the night i clicked them in to flower i was looking close and seen bugs and realized they did look like spider mites so i searched to see what they were but had nothing to magnify the bug to get a good look so i captured 5 or so and was watching them and noticed them trying to fly or jumping. Well i was confused looked for bugs that jump or fly thaught maybe a spring tale but wasnt sure what it was. Now its kinda hard to battle somthing when u dont know what it is so i braught it to a natural insect control store and paid $10 for them to identify the thrip. So i was told try predators such as AMBLYSEIUS CUCUMERIS 30 000 for $25 right away although it takes a week to get them in and some NEMATODES i think is $25 for 100 bags x 350 mites and to control the soil ROVE BEETLES 100 for $45. Now like i said i can get them in a week but had some comercial pyrithiem spray so i let a can off there was also a lot of normal big flies any way it killed a lot of the bugs now i still wanna get the predators plus apparently the AMBLYSEIUS CUCUMERIS eat mites as well but how long will the pyrithiem stay in there? i sprayed out of desperation tomorow i might washem down with soap water but ther about 3-4 feet with the pots so hard to get then through well i hope some one can tell me how long the pyrithiem will be there so i can get my army of preditors or shout i just keep bombing them lol any way thanks for your time and feed back sorry bout blabbering just really wanted to post since i was battling thrips aswell peace ppl

buzzmobile

Pyrethrin foggers are very short-lived. The pyrethrin breaks down in a few hours when exposed to light. Your predators should be OK. Soap spray is effective against thrips and it will not harm most predators. Sticky traps in yellow/blue/hot pink will also assist you in your battle.

Exactly. You have to identify the critter before doing anything.

P.S. I would have identified the critter for nothing - or at least half price for you.

NO925

Buzz you are killa thanks man i really appreaciate the fast reply. Well im gonna do that get me a army u think i should get all 3 ? ROVE BEETLES , NEMATODES and the AMBLYSEIUS CUCUMERIS ?total cost of $90 cnd i mean i guess it wouldnt hurt right and do the thrips really bite ppl will they be all over my house or do they need plants ?thanks though man you are awsome happy smokin peace pot and smoke alot

NO-925

buzzmobile

My experience with predators has been spotty at best. Do you have a lot of plants? Thrips will bite but they have to be in pretty large numbers befoe that starts to happen. Whatever you decide to use you must be persistent. Thrips are difficult to chase from the garden. Soap spray is a lot less expensive than predators and a lot more reliable. Predators alone will not do the job. Insect predators require specific temps and humidity levels to survive first of all. The room also has to be sealed to contain them. They will find their way to the great outdoors given half a chance.

NO925

thanks again yes i have 32 plus cuttings in other area 1stof all soap spray just dish soap and water or what ? and i keep getting big flies do they eat thripes or do they just really like my room? i was thinking of bombing it again good .Again tonight then washing them the next day i have yellow stick pads im gonna get some more cause i think these are getting covered i heard blue works good
and i noticed one hitch hiked in my house seen it fly off me so is my whole house gonna be infested ? i thaught mites were bad id like to just bomb the whole house but they cans are $23 a piece so i would need a lot and have to evacuate ppl and pets and seal food and such what to do buzz if you were me what would you do right now ? thanks again man i gonna have to bomb to kill the flies any way so maybe do that wash plants and room and preditors i dont know plus i will have to carry my plant out of my grow room to wash them wont that track them every where ? sorry bout all the questions just want a quick fix and i know there isnt one peace thanks buzz

buzzmobile

Insecticidal soap is different from detergents. Safer's brand makes one. I use a product called M-Pede. The trick is to get thorough coverage with the soap spray because it is only effective when wet. You have to hit the insects with it or they have to land on the leaf surface while it is still wet. The spray will discolor pistils during flowering.

Leave your plants in the grow room to treat them. Relax. Insects are not the end of the world. Although difficult to eradicate, they can be controlled. milagro had a grow that thrips found. He was relentless with the soap spray. The sooner you begin knocking down their numbers the better and more effective the follow up treatments.

budsmokeronly

Hey guys, I found a praying mantis, light brownish one outside. I've read these are great to have in the growroom, I have a small indoor garden right now, with no bug infestations.
Any suggestions on whether I should leave him in there?
Any thoughts are great!!

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