When do those ladybugs eat?? Every time I see mine, they are still and there are tons of aphids near them. Do they eat at night? Are my aphids not TASTY enough for them??

Also, if I buy the insecticidal soap does that hurt the ladybugs? Thanks

Carrie

Can you send those lady bugs up here to Long Island when they have had their fill at your house? I was so discouraged yesterday to roam the gardens and see HOW MUCH insect damage I am having this year. Aphids on roses, leaf hoppers/and or beatles of some sort chewing away at the tender tops of Rudbeckia, veronica, asters, zinnia, lots of stuff but the rudbeckias the worst.I am going to gather some of the damaged pieces and bring them to Cooperative Extension to get some advise from the hort lab there before nothing is left. It's really really bad :

I've had more insect damange this year than i can remember too. I'm out everynight with the salt shaker sprinkling slugs. Uggh.... The aphids are horrible. I think I hold the record for earwig population, and its so dry, I've probably easily lost 1/2 of what I've planted out despite watering. No sign of ladybugs and the japanese beetles are probably on their way so I'm definately discouraged. Between the drought and bugs, I'm losing the battle.

On a positive note - I've already seen baby mantids so maybe they'll step in to save the day.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of this month goes in the garden.....

My troops arrive long before the first frost, as the first aphids begin to suck on new rose shoots.
On Thursday I taught a class in bugs. I have an organic garden and it took three years to get my bugs all going good. I don't spray a thing. Occasionally I will pick off a nasty in the veggie garden, but the rest I just ignore. Having lots of "bad" bugs in my garden attracts the good ones. The guy down the street who gardens sprays everything with insecticides, and he sprays his roses too. That means bugs avoid his garden, and they flock to mine. I don't mind one little bit!!

GGG

My ladybugs started showing up about a month ago. The praying mantises started hatching almost 2 weeks ago. I also by several containers of ladybugs throughout the summer to use in the garden and greenhouse. When I need some quickly I pick the larva off my corkscrew willow. For some reason the ladybugs love to lay their eggs on that tree even though I've never seen an aphid or any other soft bodied insect on it.
Karyn

I have a wonderful infestation of baby mantids right now. They are everywhere!!! I've been seeing them in all parts of my yards.
Melanie

I've been watching for the aphids since the Lupines are about to bloom and that's when they usually show up, but there's no sign yet. I'm hoping this year we have loads of ladybugs to deal with them. Their population is increasing slowly every year. I also planted garlic everywhere in the gardens to deter my largest pest, the deers (so far it seems to be working), and know that they also deter aphids.

My nemesis are the rose slugs. They are so tiny and green and will do great damage. I've placed bird feeders around where the roses are in the hopes that this year they will help me out.

I've gone 'organic' in the last few years and have gone with the philosophy that feeding the soil provides more strenght to the plants and makes them unlikeable to the bad bugs. It seems to be working. Lots of beneficial wasps!