Beneficial garden bugs - Posted by Julie

[GeoffandNadiaLawton]

Hi all

I am trying to buy ladybeetles (ladybirds/bugs) in Australia. Does anyone know who sells them? I have contacted alot of Nurseries and they just laugh at me. I have been told about some websites for beneficial bugs but so far none of them have ladybeetles. Also I am after a ladybeetle house that attracts them. I know they sell them in USA but I haven't been able to find them in Australia. I am in Sydney. Please help.


Thanks Julie

[GeoffandNadiaLawton]

Posted by Mont:

G'day Julie. I can't help with your request unfortunately - our Sydney garden gets them but not in the quantity that you would want. What's their beneficial function in the garden?

Mont

[GeoffandNadiaLawton]

Posted by John:

Hi Julie - can't help directly but my experience is as follows

I have a number of different types of Brassicas self seeding in my (Blue Mountains) garden. As these mature and go to seed the sprouting tops get covered in aphids in plague proportions. About two weeks following this however I have noticed that one or two ladybirds start to appear (as well as other predators), they stay, breed and before very long there are no aphids left..... Sprouting Brassicas seem to be #1 on the aphid menu, and Aphids #1 on the Ladybird menu - which seem to appear out of nowhere then breed up quickly to proportionate numbers.

....Thus.... I would suggest that if you wanted large numbers of Lady beetles, I would mass sow a crop of quick growing Brassica (eg Pak Choi), then sit back and watch...

hope this helps

[GeoffandNadiaLawton]

Posted by gunalan:

Hi Julie,

Warm Autumn greetings from Korea!

Two years ago, I found a number of lady birds in an organic farm in one of the southern provinces of Korea. The kindergarten school run by the farm, had the picture of ladybird as its emblem!

So, when I first read your letter a few days ago, I felt happy, at the same time wondered what is the significance of this species in nature farming. So, I just thought of enquiring whether you were able to get the lady-birds you needed, and also to ask you to enlighten me about the place of lady-birds in bio-diverse farm activity.

As you may know, I am just a beginner in Permaculture and would like to learn from people like you who have expertise in this. Hence this request.

With all good wishes,

Towards Earth and People Care,
Stanley.

[GeoffandNadiaLawton]

Posted by vix:

Hi,

I'm in Fremantle. We grow Albizia lophanthe, a West Australian tree, which attreacts lots of aphids and then ladybirds. Their young eat lots of the aphids. Whenever I've grown an Albizia the ladybirds eand up. They are quick shade and only live about four years, Great pioneer species.

[Julie]

[Julie]

Hi all, thank-you so much for your replies. The reason I wanted ladybeetles is to control aphids, but it seems I have to attract aphids to attract ladybeetles. I do have a quite a few ladybeetles that came here on their own accord and I don't have an aphid problem. I saw on an American Gardening Show that attracting ladybeetles to one's garden is beneficial. So I have decided that if I am not having a problem with aphids, then I have enough ladybeetles already.

I am now researching into which insects are beneficial to my garden. Now I have a problem with something eating my seedlings, but I can't see anything on them. Perhaps they are nocturnal?

Thanks
Julie

[Marg]

Julie,
There is a place called Bugs for Bugs at Mundubbera in Qld. They have predatory mites etc and maybe even your ladybirds. Worth a try anyway. Good growing. Marg.

[Marika]

Hi Julie, the summer 2002, 'The Organic Gardener' mag has a whole article on 'The good bugs'.

There is a book avail thru website http://www.goodbugs.org.au. Book is called The Good Bug Book.

In this article, 3 NSW suppliers are listed-

*Benificial Bug Co.,Richmond, Ph 4570 1331, http://www.benificialbugs.com.au

*Bioworks Pty Ltd, Nambucca Heads, Ph. 6568 3555

*Ecogrow Aust. Pty Ltd, Bondi Junction, Ph.93890888, http://www.ecogrow.com.au

I hope this helps u if not enough bugs naturally come to u!!

Marika ::

[Jeff Nugent]

Many years ago I planted some tree tomato plants (New Zealanders invented the name tamarillo) at a friends place in Perth. They did extremely well, absolutely thriving.
Then one trip to Perth, to my horror, the beatiful big leaves were looking tattered and on closer inspection they were being eaten by aphids. :shock:

I went straight to the telephone and rang the Agriculture Dept. Luckily I asked for entimology and not the gardening section. My question:Where can I get ladtbirds or praying mantids? ???
The kind old entemoligist on the phone asked why I wanted them and when I replied he paused. I would think that the aphids would be doing your tree tomatos a favour, he said in a cheery voice. They are trying to lose their old leaves at the moment to make way for new ones.
I went back outside and checked. Sure enough, the aphids were only eating the old, dying leaves. The new leaves, just sprouting were looking remarkably vibrant.
I occasionally see aphids in my garden but never fret about their presence. There is always something ready to clean them up.