Live Ladybugs - Nature's Response to Your Farming Pest Problems!

I am trying anything new this year to regulate aphids on my micro village. Ladybugs and diatomaceous earth.

The first aphid control I used were the diatomaceous earth for bed bugs. I'd obtained these special honeys (1500 of them) some time back because the population had seriously exploded; but because they were not loaded properly, the container they were sent in was cracked wide-open, and only about 50 of the first 1500 came. And, to make matters worse, as it was so warm in Ohio where they were coming from, they could not be shipped before the temperature came down. Finally, they arrived and last night, the ladies were introduced and the aphid issue must be a thing of days gone by with this season. You launch ladybugs at twilight in order to prevent them from flying off. Obviously, they do not come built with night vision goggles. Next year, I will order earlier to avoid heat and get a head start to the aphids before they get out of control.

Because that term is far too long and arduous to type another instrument I will use this year to handle aphids will be diatomaceous earth, or DE for short. P will be the fossilized skeletal remains of small microscopic plants called diatoms. They come in a variety of forms like snowflakes, cones or tubes, and their form includes a good deal regarding the potency of DE. P is not a pesticide, but works by way of a mechanical means. Insects are covered with cuticle, which is a waxy layer that protects their bodies. P, with it's razor-sharp edges, cuts through this waxy material, lodging between their human body plates; and because DE is also very porous, begins sucking the juice out of these, drying the buggers out. Since using DE is a mechanical method and not a pesticide, insects can not develop an immunity to it.

You should use DE as a wormer to your animals, or wear it their coats to kill off any fleas or ticks. There are certainly a few warnings about DE you should pay attention to. Never buy DE that is swimming pool grade. This material may be ideal for filtering out pool water, however you do not want this in or on your own body, or your animals bodies. It can cause silicosis, a lung disease which can be permanent. The DE you would like is named FOOD GRADE or GARDEN GRADE diatomaceous earth. But even with the safe version, you do should simply take precautions. Do not inhale it, because it can cause mucous membrane irritation. And because it is like millions of microscopic katana blades, it goes without saying (but I will say it anyway ); don't fully grasp this stuff in your eyes. I have acquired some of these hospital-type experience markers you can buy at any drug store or multinational corporate big-box store to keep the dirt out of my lungs and nose, and I will use some protection eyeglasses to keep it out of my eyes. Glasses could work better.

More details is found on this page.

There is one additional reward on using DE in your garden. It provides 14 trace elements; which for the most part is something that is lacking with modern farming practices since the chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides leach the trace elements from the land. You'll need these trace elements in your body for good health.

But be careful not to put too much DE in your garden soil. It might kill off beneficials like earthworms. I'll be watchfully putting it around the edges of my growing boxes to take care of the ant problem; but I will not be applying the duster to spray the plants because it'll kill off the ladybugs. Which will be self-defeating.