Q.
I’m wondering if you can recommend any easy plants that are big-time lures for
beneficial insects here in Las Vegas. In
northern CA, where I spend the rest of my time, my Ammi majus aka False Queen
Anne’s Lace reseeded just about everywhere.
While it made for a very messy looking plot, while in bloom, the good
bugs were swarming my garden for months!
Since I won’t be around as much in Vegas, I’m looking for a tamer
perennial solution here.
I’m wondering if you can recommend any easy plants that are big-time lures for
beneficial insects here in Las Vegas. In
northern CA, where I spend the rest of my time, my Ammi majus aka False Queen
Anne’s Lace reseeded just about everywhere.
While it made for a very messy looking plot, while in bloom, the good
bugs were swarming my garden for months!
Since I won’t be around as much in Vegas, I’m looking for a tamer
perennial solution here.
A. Build it and they will come.
Beneficial insects are lured by a food supply. If you don’t have a food supply
for them they will leave. If you have a diverse plant palette in your garden
you will attract many more beneficials and they will have a better chance of
keeping bad boys in check.
for them they will leave. If you have a diverse plant palette in your garden
you will attract many more beneficials and they will have a better chance of
keeping bad boys in check.
Building up a beneficial insect
population is really more about smart use of appropriate pesticides. Use
organic or natural pest control products that don’t have a long residual and
use them only if you see a potential problem arising.
population is really more about smart use of appropriate pesticides. Use
organic or natural pest control products that don’t have a long residual and
use them only if you see a potential problem arising.
I see lots of ladybird beetles and green
lace wings come into an area that have the pests. When I see a lot of spraying
with conventional insecticides, these populations are usually low to
nonexistent.
lace wings come into an area that have the pests. When I see a lot of spraying
with conventional insecticides, these populations are usually low to
nonexistent.
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| Green lace wing adult |
When a person is selling organic fruit
or vegetables one of the things I look for on the products is the presence of
green lace wing eggs. If the products have not been washed you can usually see
them if you know what to look for.
or vegetables one of the things I look for on the products is the presence of
green lace wing eggs. If the products have not been washed you can usually see
them if you know what to look for.
 |
| Lacewing egg on peach |
 |
| lacewing egg on peach |
 |
| Ladybird beetle on peach |
I will post some pictures on my blog for
everyone to see. Others may have plants that are their favorites for doing
this. Hopefully they will post their comments.
everyone to see. Others may have plants that are their favorites for doing
this. Hopefully they will post their comments.
thank you for this post, bob! i love the photographs of the beneficial insects. recently found a praying mantis on the wall of our house and kept my fingers crossed that he'd head into the garden. – Vivian