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Hi everyone, and Happy New Year!
I am looking for a place to purchase (preferably farm-raised) lady bugs/beetles to control the aphid and mealybugs in my garden. I used to get these in Switzerland, but they do not ship to Spain....any suggestions?
Thanks!!!
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:20am
Hi Forampaleo - stumbled on your post when researching where to buy ladybirds/bugs. The places I tried were either out of stock or no longer available so I called a company in the UK (they cannot send outside UK) but suggested the company below.
I have just emailed
LombricesdeCalifornia.com who are based in Spain
I'm awaiting a response.
Happy bug hunting!
Chris
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:22pm
Helpful member
Hi
What kind of garden you have ? I've got more than 200 fruit trees and vegetable garden, and I don't have aphid issues. First year I came, yes, some attack of aphid in orlander and citrus, but I make ecological managment and since 4 years, I see almost no one aphid.
If you have massive aphid attack, it's because a wrong managment. First avoid quimical fertilizante, because the excess of nitrogen attrack strongly aphip for kilometers. I recommend slow fertilizante and natural one, made of carbon matter like horse manure. Sheep manure or chicken one are very strong fertilizante, so the suitable dosis will make the job.
There is many insects that eat the aphid, not only the ladybug, but also waps, mantis, earwig, dragonfly, hoverducefly, etc. It depends the kind of garden, because these insects need a habitat, zone to reproduce, flowers, fresh places, etc.
Another solution it is the used of blacksoap diluated with water and spread on the affect plants and leaves. The soap disolves the skin of aphids. In case you don't have diversity in plants but just isolated plants here and there, it could be your solution. But take in mind the main issue comes from exces of nitrogen, inappropiate fertilization.
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:39pm
Gibbonstreacy53 wrote on Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:20am:
Hi Forampaleo - stumbled on your post when researching where to buy ladybirds/bugs. The places I tried were either out of stock or no longer available so I called a company in the UK (they cannot send outside UK) but suggested the company below.
I have just emailed
LombricesdeCalifornia.com who are based in Spain...
Read more...
...
I'm awaiting a response.
Happy bug hunting!
Chris
thanks very much! I'll take a look
Happy gardening!
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:42pm
VictorEmman wrote on Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:22pm:
Hi
What kind of garden you have ? I've got more than 200 fruit trees and vegetable garden, and I don't have aphid issues. First year I came, yes, some attack of aphid in orlander and citrus, but I make ecological managment and since 4 years, I see almost no one aphid.
Read more...
If you have massive aphid attack, it's because a wrong managment. First avoid quimical fertilizante, because the excess of nitrogen attrack strongly aphip for kilometers. I recommend slow fertilizante and natural one, made of carbon matter like horse manure. Sheep manure or chicken one are very strong fertilizante, so the suitable dosis will make the job.
There is many insects that eat the aphid, not only the ladybug, but also waps, mantis, earwig, dragonfly, hoverducefly, etc. It depends the kind of garden, because these insects need a habitat, zone to reproduce, flowers, fresh places, etc.
Another solution it is the used of blacksoap diluated with water and spread on the affect plants and leaves. The soap disolves the skin of aphids. In case you don't have diversity in plants but just isolated plants here and there, it could be your solution. But take in mind the main issue comes from exces of nitrogen, inappropiate fertilization.
Hi Victor,
My problem was mostly with potted flowers (hybiscus and another). Garden center told me to use liquid fertilizer once a week during growing season, which perhaps was too much nitrogen. Thanks for your comments. best regards,
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:07pm
Helpful member
forampaleo wrote on Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:42pm:
Hi Victor,
My problem was mostly with potted flowers (hybiscus and another). Garden center told me to use liquid fertilizer once a week during growing season, which perhaps was too much nitrogen. Thanks for your comments. best regards,
Hi
Yes, it's about the dosis. About flower in pot, it's best to change the soil each 2 years or each year, so the new substrat brings fertilizante without exces fro 3 or 4 month. When I change the soil in my pots, I prune also the root, this needs to be done before spring.
About natural fertilizante, I recommand this kind : https://www.vallromanesverd.es/linea-bio/845-estiercol-de-oveja-agriorgan-pellet-30-kg.html
Here again, it's about the dosis, depending the pot and the plant, it would be 10g or 20g. This kind of fertilizante is also designed for trees.
If you have again aphid attack, black soap diluated and spread over the aphid is your solution. If you buy eggs of aphid predators, there is no chance that they will stay in your isolated plants. Avoid to spread black soap liquid in your pot soil, use only on the leaves, on the aphids.
Good luck
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:09pm
VictorEmman wrote on Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:22pm:
Hi
What kind of garden you have ? I've got more than 200 fruit trees and vegetable garden, and I don't have aphid issues. First year I came, yes, some attack of aphid in orlander and citrus, but I make ecological managment and since 4 years, I see almost no one aphid.
Read more...
If you have massive aphid attack, it's because a wrong managment. First avoid quimical fertilizante, because the excess of nitrogen attrack strongly aphip for kilometers. I recommend slow fertilizante and natural one, made of carbon matter like horse manure. Sheep manure or chicken one are very strong fertilizante, so the suitable dosis will make the job.
There is many insects that eat the aphid, not only the ladybug, but also waps, mantis, earwig, dragonfly, hoverducefly, etc. It depends the kind of garden, because these insects need a habitat, zone to reproduce, flowers, fresh places, etc.
Another solution it is the used of blacksoap diluated with water and spread on the affect plants and leaves. The soap disolves the skin of aphids. In case you don't have diversity in plants but just isolated plants here and there, it could be your solution. But take in mind the main issue comes from exces of nitrogen, inappropiate fertilization.
Ah OK thank you. I'll try the black soap. I only have terraces (3) but I'm building up plants and vegetables.
Thank you
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:20pm
Helpful member
Gibbonstreacy53 wrote on Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:09pm:
Ah OK thank you. I'll try the black soap. I only have terraces (3) but I'm building up plants and vegetables.
Thank you
You can find this black soap in mercadona : https://www.leroymerlin.es/productos/banos/muebles-de-bano/productos-desinfectantes/quitamanchas-jabones-beltran-natural-jabon-500-g-87674759.html?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=624709&awc=20598_1710256762_42d1bf27524e92d5b048e3bb5ac40ec6&utm_id=387962916&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=afiliacion&utm_term=624709&utm_content=35719137310&utm_campaign=lmes_nac_na_ao_Afiliados_20240101_20241231&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=624709
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:14pm
VictorEmman wrote on Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:20pm:
You can find this black soap in mercadona : https://www.leroymerlin.es/productos/banos/muebles-de-bano/productos-desinfectantes/quitamanchas-jabones-beltran-natural-jabon-500-g-87674759.html?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=624709&awc=20598_1710256762_42d1bf27524e92d5b048e3bb5ac40ec6&...
Read more...
...;utm_id=387962916&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=afiliacion&utm_term=624709&utm_content=35719137310&utm_campaign=lmes_nac_na_ao_Afiliados_20240101_20241231&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=624709
Perfect, thank you very much
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