Plant
Protection
Protecting your plants the natural way
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You can protect your plants naturally using biological control. Biological control reduces the number of pests in your garden using the natural enemies of the pests.
Both the adult ladybirds and larvae consume large numbers of aphids (greenfly and blackfly). An adult ladybird lays 20 to 50 eggs a day, building up a population for natural pest control.
Ensure you have an aphid problem before ordering so that they will survive and ensure that there are no ants present as they will reduce efficiency (ants protect aphids and fight with the ladybirds). Insect Barrier Glue or Glue bands may be used.
Adalia bipunctata is a native Brtish ladybird.and feeds on different aphid species.
(25 Adults Treats up to 5m²)
Both the larvae and adults attack all stages of mealybugs. If food is scarce they will eat soft scales and aphids. Introduce from late Spring to early Autumn.
When applying Cryptolaemus in greenhouses, introduce 2-3 adults/m². It is best applied during a cool time of the day. The presence of ants in the crop adversely affects the work of Cryptolaemus. Ants are very keen on the mealy bug's honeydew and therefore protect them against this predator.
One pack treats up to 10 sq.m
The lacewing larvae eat thrips, red spider mite, small caterpillar eggs and mealy bugs. The larvae can be introduced in fruit and vegetable crops or ornamentals. The larvae are approximately 0.8 mm and eat up to 50 aphids per day.
If ants are present it will reduce the efficiency of the ladybird larvae, use Insect Barrier Glue to stop ants crawling up plants and trees.
As the larvae cannot fly, they need to be able to reach their prey; the larvae should therefore be placed near the aphids. The larvae are able to move 4-5 km before they become adults. The adult lacewing lays approximately 20 eggs per day. From egg to adult takes about 30 days.
Ants protect aphids, and fight with the lacewings. For maximum efficiency, ensure no ants are present, Insect Barrier Glue or Glue Bands may be used to solve this problem
One pack treats up to 100 sq.m
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Phytoseiulus is one of the best methods for controlling red spider mite, and is widely used by both amateur gardeners and commercial growers. They are tiny predatory beneficial mites, shiny orange and fast moving, they feed on the eggs, young, and adults of the spider mite. Phytoseiulus breed very rapidly and spreads across foliage, ideal for both inside and outside.
The mites look actively for prey (all life stages of the red spider mite) and suck them empty. The ideal temperature for predatory mites is between 15 and 25°C.
Treats up to 100sq.m
Adult whiteflies are small, white, ‘powderey’ insects (about 1 mm). They feed on plant sap, which stunts the growth of the plant. They also transmit several viruses that can cause plant disease. Larvae and adults secrete a sticky substance (honeydew). It makes the leaves (and fruits) dirty and sticky and causes fungal growth.
The parasitic wasp Encarsia measures about 0.6 to 0.7mm and lays eggs into the whitefly larvae. After 10 days the whitefly parasitized pupae die and turn black. After another 10 to 14 days, new parasitic wasps leave the black pupae to infect further pupae.
One packet can treat on average a surface area of approx 50 m2