Some Beneficial Predators

Predatory insects are out and about taking advantage of the scavenger and herbaceous pray. Here a ladybug larva feasts upon a plentiful supply of aphids. This is well needed too as the main tree with the aphid problem has so much honeydew dripping on it's leaves that portions of the lower growth, and other plants around it, have started turning black. This should go away soon, but when this tree gets a little taller such aphid problems might cause bad things to the fruit (native plums). Honey dew rain is also disgusting to sit under.

Here some type of spider guards an apple. I've always called these jumping spiders, perhaps someone else knows a better name? Apple Trees are a good place to hunt for insects. Contrary to what supermarkets lead you to believe, Apples are not easy to grow, at least perfect ones that is. These trees get used by an assortment of common moths, diseases run rampant, and all to often you'll find a large worm crawling around inside the fruit. Weekly spraying is the only way to really ensure a good harvest but isn't always necessary. A few apples are typically untouched by all the insect pandemonium. 

I'm still seeing droves of Praying Mantises wondering about. They haven't ventured very far from the eggs but I'm sure they're slowly dispersing around the garden. What's neat is how some of them are developing. Some have larger heads now, while others seem to get bigger four-arms. I'll try and get pictures of this later on.

Growing a Greener World Natural Pest Control

Growing a Greener World: Natural Pest Control

Here is a link to a fairly new episode to a garden show I really enjoy. Over the winter I think they stopped releasing episodes and I haven't visited their site until now. Time for me to get caught up. I was impressed with the level of information this show gives.

Also I noticed how naturally they tip toed the issue of the Multicolored Asian Lady Bug, Harmonia axyridis, an invasive species being sold for as organic pest control. They simply say buying adults isn't the best option because they tend to just fly away and can also transport disease. In a perfect world the sale of this species would be banned entirely. I'm happy to learn native species of lady bugs are available for sale.

What about Aphids?

So yesterday I talked about things going wrong with my fruit trees. And these things are going to be problems as long as I don't spray insecticides and fungicides. So where are all the good guys in all this?

So here is a patch of aphids under the protection of Tapinoma sessile. Yes the aphids are slowly draining the apple tree of it's energy. But that's just something gardeners say and usually over react to. These aphids are only on the new growth of the tree and one study pointed out at most they inhibit 15% of the tree's growth. I can live with that.

The added benefit of having ants treating the tree as one giant food source is many of them are predators of caterpillars. Especially small ones that they can manage. Mostly though they have a harassing nature to other bugs and ants, especially if the other bug is to big for them to handle. Even so, a healthy colony can over take or limit where the pest insects are able to go on the tree. And at their best the ants are killing the insects or forcing them to jump ship and find another host plant.

Even with ant protection though there are still predators that keep their populations in check. Here is a Hover Fly larva.

They move thought the aphid herds nibbling on the aphids one by one for their season. (I find most of the aphids on the trees in my yard aren't present for more than a few months.) These grubs are overlooked by ant patrols that come to inspect and harvest the aphid dew.

Even when they are discovered they're licked and cleaned as though they were an aphid or some odd growth on the tree. I've even seen ants inspecting the Hover Fly larva while in the act of eating an aphid. The ant didn't seem to care.

When gardeners see aphids they like to believe they're being "organic" by turning to store bought lady bugs instead of chemicals.

Harmonia axyridis has plaid one of the greatest tricks on the unknowing gardener's eyes. Pictured above are two ladybugs that are the same species, and currently in the act of mating. One is a dull orange color with very few spots. The other is a warmer orange red color with lots of dark spots. 

It's called the Asian Multicolored Ladybug. As you can see it comes in many colors. Note the thorax (the white part) and patterns of the spots. With few exceptions the spots are bigger on the darker forms. But the diversity of this one nonnative species has replaced 400 or so native species of lady bugs. Image Source.

For images of ladybugs see BugGuide.net.

Before buying an invasive species of lady bugs, consider seeing if the aphids are a problem in the first place. If it's something you can just take a wet rag to and remove yourself why use the money? The lady bug they're selling in stores is invasive and bound to show up on it's own anyhow. Bottom line, if you have aphids you should try and encourage beneficial insects to keep them under control.