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Catching wild lady birds



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fish_4_all
Zone 8-9 Washington
Posts: 557
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 1:20 am   Post subject: Catching wild lady birds


Is there any way to attract and catch wild lady birds? I want to put them on the plants to keep my aphid problem from getting too bad in my hot house. There must be a bush or something that will attact them.




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Droopy


Regular Plants Contributor

Western Norway
Posts: 9336
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:29 am   Post subject:


I have no idea, fish. Our ladybugs just sort of show up. If I find one on the lawn I carry it to the nearest infected bush. Sometimes it will feed, sometimes not.


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eileen


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Scotland
Posts: 18528
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:25 am   Post subject:


Take a few minutes to Google if you can spare the time. There are sites on the web that actually sell Ladybirds. It might be easier to order some than to try catching them. Stew Face 1


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fish_4_all
Zone 8-9 Washington
Posts: 557
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:00 pm   Post subject:


That's what it looks like right now eileen, not much I can do this time of year to attract them. None of my flowers will bloom that attract them for another 2 months. I know my local garden store gets them so I might just have to buy them bexcause I don't ever remember seeing a lot of them anyway.

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toni


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North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11709
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:16 pm   Post subject:


Ladybugs are not attracted by flowers, they know where the aphids are and show up.
If your neighbors are in the habit of spraying chemicals on their lawns and gardens, there may not be many around.

I read on a website recently that many gardeners don't know they have an aphid problem until they are swarmed by ladybugs. Wink


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fish_4_all
Zone 8-9 Washington
Posts: 557
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:49 pm   Post subject:


Hmm, web sites say that daffodils, tulips, dill, and toher flowers will attract them but who knows. It soulds more like they flowers keep them there instead of attracting them. If my Bee balm is any indicator the aphids it attracts will do all the work getting the little ladies to my garden.

http://gardeningzone.com/product_info-Ladybug-Lure.html

I wonder if these will work? Mr. Green Rolling Eyes

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toni


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North Texas, Zone 8a
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:46 pm   Post subject:


Learn something new every day. I have never seen any articles about them being attracted by specific flowers or flowers of any kind.
I will have to dig into more info on that and see what needs to be in my garden......besides the aphids on the roses Rolling Eyes


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Droopy


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Western Norway
Posts: 9336
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:25 pm   Post subject:


This is one of the reasons why I like the Stew. I learn something new all the time. Very Happy


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daisybeans

annapolis md
Posts: 3675
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:21 am   Post subject:


Toni, that is me. I didn't know what aphids looked like until last year my honeysuckle bush was covered with ladybugs... Very interesting, it's good to learn a new thing every day.


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