“Insects – Let’s Learn to Love Them!”
Today was the first time I attended a gardening class. Till now, my lessons have been directly from my grandfather or by trial and error. I’ve got to say that the class was phenomenal! I learned so much about insects and the benefits of having insects in your garden. I must say that the class taught by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara was of excellent quality. Their expert knowledge and good experience made them stand out as very reliable sources.
The following slideshow pictures were all taken by renound nature photographer Robert Shimmon
www.bobshimmon.com whom I had the pleasure of meeting today.
We talked about the balance of nature and how bugs fit in. Apparently 97% of insects are beneficial.
Two Major Life Cycles
|
Complete Metamorphosis |
Simple Metamorphosis |
| Egg -> Larva -> Pupa -> Butterfly |
|
Examples:
|
Examples:
|
It’s very helpful to have gloves and a hand lens on hand while you are examining the insects on your plants.
***Predators and Parasites can take care of insects.
- Predational stages of lady beetles will eat everything.
- Black beatles are great predators of slugs and snail eggs.
- Lace wing adults and larva are voracious feeders of aphids
- Wasps are tremendously beneficial for controlling insect population.
- Brown eggs near aphids with holes are parasitized.
- Nectar for energy (contain carbs and sugar)
- Pollen for protein
- Leaves
- Identify that there’s a problem
- Monitor your plants to see their normal state
- Can you deal with the problem with mechanical/physical controls?
- ex: Smash, squish, hose off with water
- You can buy beneficial insects from your garden center but the insects will most likely fly away!
- You can put a bag over a particular infested plant and release the beneficial insects to feast in the sealed bag.
- Bacillus Thorengensis (bacterial solution) have no effect on beneficials.
- Slug O to get rid of snails (skunks and possums might eat them as well)
- Tangle Foot
- Place your terracotta pots upside down
- All snails will go in because it’s dark and moist
- You can just throw them away.
June 19, 2011
urbanhorticulture
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