BaTTle oF The BuGs: a GuiDe To BeneFicial insecTs
Most beneficial insect suppliers will provide green lacewing eggs, which can be distributed evenly throughout the plants. When the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae will search and destroy, traveling up to 100 ft. to find their first meal.
BeneficiAl insect: Praying mantis (Tenodera sinensis) pest insect: Thrips, aphids, whiteflies, fungus gnat, mealy bugs and spider mites The praying mantis is the ultimate opportunist beneficial insect. These awesome bugs will eat anything they can catch. Praying mantis egg sacks can be hung within the garden’s environment to promote hatching. When the egg sack hatches, over 100 miniature mantises will release their carnage on any and every pest insect they encounter. The tiny warriors will
146
Maximum Yield USA | July 2012
grow into adults over a three to four month period. Mantises are very elusive creatures, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see many after they hatch. A praying mantis will wait patiently, sometimes for hours, until an appetizing insect wanders by. Then, the mantis will pounce on its prey and devour it. Adult mantises are often very territorial and a
single adult mantis can claim a fairly large area as its exclusive hunting grounds. Also, mantises feed entirely on other insects making them a great choice for any enclosed garden space.