2014 SPRING HOME AND GARDEN “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.COM May 1, 2014 45
8. Fly predators
Besides mosquitoes, the insects that bug us the
most have to be FLIES. Swat them, spray them,
even trap them, and there are always more flies
than we can control, especially late in the summer.
Happily, there is a tiny, parasitic wasp called the
zaraptor that controls flies by laying its eggs in the
fly maggots. The eggs hatch and eat the fly pupae
from the inside out. You can order the zaraptor
wasps from
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product/fly-parasites/
7. The Trichogramma
With a $10 name, the Trichogramma is also a
tiny, parasitic wasp, but this one lays its eggs in
the eggs of more than 200 species of butterflies
and moths — you know, the ones that are pretty
when they are flying around but nasty when they
are munching the leaves of your vegetable garden
plants, such as the infamous cabbage worm.
The Trichogramma last only nine to 11 days,
but during their short life they short-circuit the
caterpillars that devastate our flower and vegetable
gardens.
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trichogramma-wasps/
6. Predatory mites
The sixth on the most-wanted list combats a pest
that is difficult to control and eradicate: spider
mites. Spider mites can damage garden plants and
indoor plants, and they are an especially damaging
greenhouse pest. Predatory mites eat the eggs of
spider mites and help control outbreaks. Consider
spraying with insecticidal soap prior to releasing
predatory mites, to give them a leg up.
mites-spidex/
5. Whitefly parasites
Whiteflies can quickly get out of control in a
garden, especially if there is less than average
rainfall. Both the adult and young whiteflies dwell
on the undersides of leaves, and the adults fly
off when disturbed, making a white cloud of tiny
flying insects. When you reach the cloud state,
your garden is in serious condition. Whiteflies are
especially attracted to verbena, lobelia and tomato
plants. The most effective biological control for
the whitefly is another of the tiny, parasitic wasps,
called Encarsia formosa. Old formosa is attracted
to the scent of the honeydew produced by aphids
and whiteflies, and it feeds on the body fluids of
both adult and larval whiteflies.
parasites-en-strip/
4. Mealybug destroyers
Mealybugs are gross and nasty. They make small
nests that resemble white, cottony patches on the
leaves and stems of our garden and indoor plants.
Inside those gooey patches, the mealybugs hide,
lay their eggs and suck the life out of our plants.
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