Preventive measures
 

My preventive measures, got some new plants recently thought with the up coming season i would unleash hell on any accidental terrorists to my plants >:( ............ :lol:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...105CDT2010.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...045CDT2010.jpg

They must have found a potential pitcher bomber ,cause they are surrounding that pitcher (yes it is a recently new plant).
I only released about 500 of the 1500 into my 6 x 8 ft GH , they should have that thing in squeaky clean condition in no time

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...020CDT2010.jpg

daren

Re: Preventive measures
 

Nice try, those ladybugs look cute! However, i'll quote this from savage garden book by Peter D'Amato "we released ten thousand ladybugs to see what would happen. What happened was we found ou that ladybugs make an excellent food for carnivorous plants, as all were eaten in about two days. Ladybugs were so drunk on the nectar of pitcher plants, we watched them stepping over aphids as they followed the nectar trails to their death."

Of course, Peter D'Amato had a HUGE greenhouse, so you can't really compare. What I'm trying to say is that the ladybug method might not work if you have 7 or 8 neps. They will get eaten faster than killing aphids.

Good luck with solving your problem! :)

Re: Preventive measures
 

AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO PROBLEM, and yes i have read the book i also have several other goodies in the bag to help protect these treasures of mine. they have had a long winter here so now they are being fed:1thumbup:.
As you see in that pic of them surrounding that pitcher most are in the pitcher now .
Just one thing though ,What works for one doesnt always work for another . Peter D can write all day long about how they didnt work for him but then Sam Estes , Jeremiah Harris, or Stewart McPherson might have great success with them , then What ?


daren

Re: Preventive measures
 

Lol, good point. Everyone has their perspective. Of course, ladybugs ARE the best and don't pollute the environment.

Did you buy those ladybugs? How much do they cost?

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Here in the States (Kansas) they were under $10 for 1500

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Ohh...not bad. I always thought 1 would be around 5 USD, haha. Thx a lot CN, now I can solve my aphid problem next time.

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aside from aphids what are lady bugs good at? I have some scale and mealy
bug issues (possibly some more) would they help?

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thanks

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Those ladybugs looks so cute. Too bad I can't find a place to buy them here in Malaysia.

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Now that's a biological control that's environmentally friendly but too bad you need an enclosed growing area to avoid those ladies from flying away... *biggrin2*

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:1thumbup:
Here is my preventive measure. My basement raptor. It stays on my xMiranda since months:

http://www.3ddart.com/neps/mantis02.jpg

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lol.....nice mantis. Looks very healthy, it can eat aphids?

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I think he would consider aphids as snack if he sits in front of tv *biggrin2* Now in winter I haven't got any insects in my basement and I even have to feed him. He gets small upto medium sized grasshoppers. But this was my first try with a mantis in the neps rooms and it works really great. This won't be my last mantis. Unfortunately they aren't getting very old. Maximum is about a year.

But if you get eggs of mantis the larves should be really a good protection. The larves are hunting from the first moment on and are always hungry. So aphids might be on there menu also. If they've cought all enemies they'll start to eat each other.

Re: Preventive measures
 

i have my 6 months old kitten to guard my plant shed from the dozens of white breasted waterhen/ amaurornis phoenicurus from digging my SM in the pots and a green vine snake/ Ahaetulla nasuta from the terrorist brats around my quarters!! environment friendly also....in a bigger scale!! ha ha ha*biggrin2*

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Thats a good one. :biggrin:

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phhhttt ... time for armament: ;)
Here are the guys who are protecting my greenhouse: :tongue:

http://www.3ddart.com/neps/doggies.jpg

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owh...the furry fur can warm up the place too!!:1thumbup: warf..warf..warf.

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I always got "surprise" headache in the morning when my dogs over turn my nep pots sitting on the floor... with uprooted neps and media spilling everywhere... :crying: :sweating: :crying:

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do planter box for the pots on the floor or put them in baskets.....

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Thanks for the suggestion but I already ran out of place to even put potted plants, let alone a planter box or basket... :sweating:

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yes I know this feeling. The neps are safety but I lost last year LOTS of sarracenias as my brother came for a visit and his dog showed my dogs how to re-design the bog garden. :veryangry: From that day on they had a new hobby.

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Oh my god are your plants ok? Sounds cruel

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no ... most of the attacked big, old sarras didn't came back after the winter last year. Well now I hope that my hundreds of over two years old seedlings have survived the very hard winter this season else I go for tomatoes outdoors :mad: ;)

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OMG god..ouch..

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oh.....it sounds really like 3rd world war for me....i'm sorry~