Lady bugs and man made ladybug nectar

Dewayne mater · May 21, 2013

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.

May 21, 2013	#1
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	Lady bugs and man made ladybug nectar 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.