Biological Pest Control - Bugs That Kill Bugs
Spider Mites, Aphids, Snails and Slugs are the most common pests in our gardens.
Far too many chemicals are applied by home gardeners to control insects, killing also the good bugs which protect your plants, and maybe making your vegetables inedible.
Fact is that the majority of pesticides in our environment are distributed by home gardeners.
Fortunately there are many insects and parasites with which we can fight the aphids, spider mites, snails and grubs which live by eating and sometimes killing our vegetables and flowers.
Try putting these Biological Pest Controllers to work for you, in your garden or in your home.
You will be surprised at the results.
Ladybugs are widely known and a much loved Pest Control.
The larval and adult forms of the Lady Beetle species feeds on a wide variety of small, soft-bodied insects, such as aphids and other insect larvae.
Both the adults and larvae actively hunt for prey over the surfaces of plants, especially in weedy environments and in crops.
Ladybugs can be used indoors and when they done their job they can be gathered and put into hibernation by lowering the temperature.
Phytoseiulus persimilis is an active Predatory Mite that has specialised in feeding on Spider Mites.
This includes the common Red Spider Mite or Two-Spot Mite and the Carmine Mite, but it is unable to feed on other arthropod prey.
Both the larval and adult Predator Mite will feed on all stages of Spider mites.
In the absence of spider mites it cannot become established.
Predatory Mites can be used indoors and will die when there is no prey.
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic roundworms found abundantly in the soil.
They are highly specialized, and nematodes for killing slugs will not harm the benign earthworms.
They infect mollusks as snails and slugs by entering their bodies through natural openings.
Once inside, they release bacteria that multiply and kill their hosts.
Nematodes also feed on their victims carcasses and reproduce by the thousands, creating a hungry army that seeks more hosts.
Slugs exposed to nematodes die 3 to 5 days after infection, depending on the toxicity of the bacteria and their concentration in the host.
Far too many chemicals are applied by home gardeners to control insects, killing also the good bugs which protect your plants, and maybe making your vegetables inedible.
Fact is that the majority of pesticides in our environment are distributed by home gardeners.
Fortunately there are many insects and parasites with which we can fight the aphids, spider mites, snails and grubs which live by eating and sometimes killing our vegetables and flowers.
Try putting these Biological Pest Controllers to work for you, in your garden or in your home.
You will be surprised at the results.
Ladybugs are widely known and a much loved Pest Control.
The larval and adult forms of the Lady Beetle species feeds on a wide variety of small, soft-bodied insects, such as aphids and other insect larvae.
Both the adults and larvae actively hunt for prey over the surfaces of plants, especially in weedy environments and in crops.
Ladybugs can be used indoors and when they done their job they can be gathered and put into hibernation by lowering the temperature.
Phytoseiulus persimilis is an active Predatory Mite that has specialised in feeding on Spider Mites.
This includes the common Red Spider Mite or Two-Spot Mite and the Carmine Mite, but it is unable to feed on other arthropod prey.
Both the larval and adult Predator Mite will feed on all stages of Spider mites.
In the absence of spider mites it cannot become established.
Predatory Mites can be used indoors and will die when there is no prey.
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic roundworms found abundantly in the soil.
They are highly specialized, and nematodes for killing slugs will not harm the benign earthworms.
They infect mollusks as snails and slugs by entering their bodies through natural openings.
Once inside, they release bacteria that multiply and kill their hosts.
Nematodes also feed on their victims carcasses and reproduce by the thousands, creating a hungry army that seeks more hosts.
Slugs exposed to nematodes die 3 to 5 days after infection, depending on the toxicity of the bacteria and their concentration in the host.
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