Lady bugs and man made ladybug nectar

[Dewayne mater]

I joined the beneficial bug club and bought a bag of 1500 lady bugs from Calloways. I also bought a bag of what they called lady bug nectar, both distributed by the same company. I put out a good bit of the nectar, which is a powder, early in the morning when dew is on the leaves and the nectar sticks. I've been letting the lady bugs out day by day in different places.

The good: because of nectar (I'm guessing) many of the lady bugs are staying and my plants each have several lady bugs on them. I think they are eating some aphids too. I'd noticed that lettuce had a bunch of aphids on it and the lady bugs seem to be congregating there as if for a feast.

Even better, I've had tons of bees, several kinds too (and a few kinds of wasps, which I'm less excited about), showing up and they definitely seem attracted to the nectar. What I can't tell is if they are eating the nectar only, or are they doing the pollen dance too? Obviously, bees are awesome, but, are helping pollinate or just eating the nectar?

Does anyone have experience with lady bug nectar and whether or not lady bugs, bees, etc. will still do their job when nectar is there to be had?

Last question - is their bee toxicity in exel lg? Its time for another round of fungicide with several days of super high humidity, some rain and more on the way. I don't want to be the guy who lured in all the bees with nectar, then inadvertently killed them trying to stave off fungal disease. Thanks.

Dewayne mater.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Dewayne mater

(and a few kinds of wasps, which I'm less excited about)

Dewayne mater.

You should be excited about the wasps. They are very beneficial predators of garden pests. One of the best. Every kind of wasp has its specialty. But 99.9% of them attack and kill some kind of pest insect. Most of them specialize in caterpillars. Think of them as your elite special forces air attack group!

Sure like most those haughty "flyboys", they may sometimes make an annoying "flyby" the tower control (you). But they won't sting unless you threaten the nest.

They will sting those caterpillars though. Seek and destroy!

Between lady bugs killing aphids and wasps killing other pests, you'll find far less problems in you garden.

[Crandrew]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

You should be excited about the wasps. They are very beneficial predators of garden pests. One of the best. Every kind of wasp has its specialty. But 99.9% of them attack and kill some kind of pest insect. Most of them specialize in caterpillars. Think of them as your elite special forces air attack group!

Sure like most those haughty "flyboys", they may sometimes make an annoying "flyby" the tower control (you). But they won't sting unless you threaten the nest.

They will sting those caterpillars though. Seek and destroy!

Between lady bugs killing aphids and wasps killing other pests, you'll find far less problems in you garden.

well said.

So I have two wasp nests in the neighbors eves that are about the size of my fist. They LOVE my garden and I have noticed have been hanging around the areas that the inch worms and caterpillars have been attacking. I assumed they were going for gnats and flys but now it makes sense after reading what you wrote.
I was going to do something about it, but figured, since they haven't harmed me yet, why not try and live in some form of balance here.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Crandrew

well said.

So I have two wasp nests in the neighbors eves that are about the size of my fist. They LOVE my garden and I have noticed have been hanging around the areas that the inch worms and caterpillars have been attacking. I assumed they were going for gnats and flys but now it makes sense after reading what you wrote.
I was going to do something about it, but figured, since they haven't harmed me yet, why not try and live in some form of balance here.

Well be careful with that. If it is near a walkway or door, the wasps could turn into a problem. They may think the nest is being attacked. That is a serious issue.

But as long as it is in an out of the way place that no one will bother, all is good.

I personally love wasps. And I personally hate chemical pesticides. But I do have a can of quick wasp knockdown made by RAID just in case they make a nest in a dangerous area. Only had to use it once in 5 years, and that was when we had a nest under the picnic table. But still I keep it on hand. Some people can be allergic to a sting. Better safe than sorry.

[Dewayne mater]

Very cool! I only knew that I did not being stung by them. Glad they are joining the party and hope they eat till they can eat no more. Maybe I should buy some of this lady bug nectar to keep around since it seems to be attracting lots of beneficial insects.

D M.

[sfmathews]

I have wasps flying in my garden every summer. I've even disturbed them by accident, (not knowing they were under a leaf), causing them to fly off. I have not been stung yet (knock on wood!)

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by sfmathews

I have wasps flying in my garden every summer. I've even disturbed them by accident, (not knowing they were under a leaf), causing them to fly off. I have not been stung yet (knock on wood!)

I've not been stung yet, either and I see tons of wasps in the garden. They seem to really like aphides, which is good by me.

[BarbJ]

That's very cool that they make ladybug nectar now. When I used to put out ladybugs, I had to make my own nectar.
As you know, when ladybugs are let go, they're very hungry, having just woke up from hibernating. So they go off to find nectar, they want that before any insect protein. But I would confine them to a large clean gallon jar, and sprinkle my home-made nectar around inside.

I used a couple teaspoons of sugar and a teaspoon of yeast, mixed with enough water to make a thin gruel.

They go right for it and gorge on it. The other great thing about feeding them, besides keeping them from flying off, is that once they are full, they get busy!
I mean with each other! As soon as a couple would "couple" I'd let them out in the yard. Then it was a Paaartay in the Garden! And that's the best, because as great as it is to have ladybugs eating pest for you, what's even better is their larvae eating pests. Ladybug larvae eat way more aphids and such than the adults.

Keep an eye out for young ones, you should be seeing them soon. :

[RebelRidin]

Originally Posted by BarbJ

That's very cool that they make ladybug nectar now. When I used to put out ladybugs, I had to make my own nectar.
As you know, when ladybugs are let go, they're very hungry, having just woke up from hibernating. So they go off to find nectar, they want that before any insect protein. But I would confine them to a large clean gallon jar, and sprinkle my home-made nectar around inside.

I used a couple teaspoons of sugar and a teaspoon of yeast, mixed with enough water to make a thin gruel.

They go right for it and gorge on it. The other great thing about feeding them, besides keeping them from flying off, is that once they are full, they get busy!
I mean with each other! As soon as a couple would "couple" I'd let them out in the yard. Then it was a Paaartay in the Garden! And that's the best, because as great as it is to have ladybugs eating pest for you, what's even better is their larvae eating pests. Ladybug larvae eat way more aphids and such than the adults.

Keep an eye out for young ones, you should be seeing them soon. :

I had many hundreds of asian ladybug pupae on my strawberry bed several weeks ago. The week before last I noticed they had become many hundreds of ladybugs. Then this last week they started to show up in my garden and just today I saw the first new ladybug larvae. Thye looked hungry and mean which is of course just how I like them! BTW: Does anyone know if they can/do eat newly hatched cabbage worms or the looper eggs. I have been amazed that I have only seen four or five worms total this year on about 60 plants. Usually I would have sparyed two to three times by now.



That is interesting about the nectar and bees. I'm wondering if that might be able to help attract pollinators for squash and melons?

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by RebelRidin

I had many hundreds of asian ladybug pupae on my strawberry bed several weeks ago. The week before last I noticed they had become many hundreds of ladybugs. Then this last week they started to show up in my garden and just today I saw the first new ladybug larvae. Thye looked hungry and mean which is of course just how I like them! BTW: Does anyone know if they can/do eat newly hatched cabbage worms or the looper eggs. I have been amazed that I have only seen four or five worms total this year on about 60 plants. Usually I would have sparyed two to three times by now.



That is interesting about the nectar and bees. I'm wondering if that might be able to help attract pollinators for squash and melons?

The problem with Harlequins (asian lady bugs) is that if they ever run out of pests to eat, they will get hungry and start eating your crops. Unlike domestic lady bugs that ONLY eat pests.

So I sure hope that is what is eating your baby cabbage worms! Don't want to let those Asian ones get hungry!

[RebelRidin]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

The problem with Harlequins (asian lady bugs) is that if they ever run out of pests to eat, they will get hungry and start eating your crops. Unlike domestic lady bugs that ONLY eat pests.

So I sure hope that is what is eating your baby cabbage worms! Don't want to let those Asian ones get hungry!

Scott,

Have you experienced them turning on your plants first hand? I read up on them at many different extension, ag sites, etcetera and none of them ever mentioned that. I would rather have the native but they have seemingly been all but displaced here.

I was thinking that the hard freezes we had in April may have killed off a lot of the adult loopers as I havn't seen very many. Still, a few is usually all that is needed to get a bad case of worms.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by RebelRidin

Scott,

Have you experienced them turning on your plants first hand? I read up on them at many different extension, ag sites, etcetera and none of them ever mentioned that. I would rather have the native but they have seemingly been all but displaced here.

I was thinking that the hard freezes we had in April may have killed off a lot of the adult loopers as I havn't seen very many. Still, a few is usually all that is needed to get a bad case of worms.

Nope. I never experienced it first hand. Only the literature. So I have no idea how over populated they must get before they change from beneficial to pest. All I know it that some growers had it happen. If I remember correctly it was vineyards in California?

[Crandrew]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Well be careful with that. If it is near a walkway or door, the wasps could turn into a problem. They may think the nest is being attacked. That is a serious issue.

But as long as it is in an out of the way place that no one will bother, all is good.

I personally love wasps. And I personally hate chemical pesticides. But I do have a can of quick wasp knockdown made by RAID just in case they make a nest in a dangerous area. Only had to use it once in 5 years, and that was when we had a nest under the picnic table. But still I keep it on hand. Some people can be allergic to a sting. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks. It's actually on the neighbors eves near the top of the A portion. No doors near within 30ft, I think that should be fine.
I've been meaning to grab one of those cans though.

[DogsandDirt]

About 2 years ago I bought the lady bugs from Calloways as well since nothing else was working to get rid of the aphids on my peppers. They did the job. I didn't use "ladybug nectar" (didn't know there was such a thing), just misted the area at dusk and let half of them loose. Let the other half loose the next evening. Over the next several seeks I would see the larvae appear and continue to help control the aphids.

As for wasps, love them, even yellow jackets. I watched 2 yellow jackets tear apart a cabbage looper one morning. Out of morbid curiosity, I tossed them another looper. They went crazy on it. Not so fun being stung by them though. Hurts for days and itches insanely.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by DogsandDirt

. Not so fun being stung by them though. Hurts for days and itches insanely.

For wasp stings coat the area in Vinegar as their venom is alkaline. Bees stings use Baking soda as their venom is acid.
It will take the pain of the sting out and calm the itching.