Hi Brighty - I am always happy to see ladybugs in the garden.

Kasie

I bought a box of them the other week. Half of them were dead. They hung around for a day or two and wiped out the aphids, but now they are all gone. There are some places on the net were you can buy large quantities of them...might try that next.

I buy several thousand every year for my garden and greenhouse. I've never received a bad batch. Most are sold in containers of 500 to 3000 insects. Ladybugs are fine for any plant and will hang around as long as there's something to eat. I've never had aphids on my plumies. They seem to not be bothered by much here except for the occasional spider mite infestation. I wish I could say that about my other plants.
Karyn

IÂve never had serious bug problems on my plumeria. IÂve observed wolf spiders and wasps eating very tiny bugs on the tips in the early spring. Every year they seem to arrive from Hawaii with the cuttings. I imagine ladybugs would have eaten them if they had gotten to them first. IÂve also seen an occasional small leafhopper type bug this spring, but I leave them for Lizzie the Lizard to eat if I donÂt manage to kill them myself. This winter will be the first time I will have a greenhouse, so I may be singing the spider mite blues later this year. Karyn, are you suggesting that ladybugs donÂt control spider mites in a greenhouse?

Philip

HI Philip and all.
I have had some aphid on my plumies, some damp evenings. I have 3 or 4 busy lady bugs on my plumie, going up and down the plants.

Philip.. Wolf Spiders? oooh Lizzie's friends. oh dear, Ha
Karen

I had aphids on my Desert Rose and bought lady bugs three times at HD. There were appr 1500 to a bag and all seemed to be alive. I didn't count them. My trouble with them though was that I couldn't get them to stay. I scattered them about the plant in the evening, they would still be there in the morning, and then by late afternoon they were all gone. Finally started spraying with water and Dawn dish soap. It seems to have helped. But I really liked the lady bug idea and was quite dissappointed when they all flew away.
Lauri

Philip I was saying that the only bad bug that I've ever seen on any of my plumeria was spider mites. They just don't seem to be bothered by too many pests, unlike some of my other plants. The ladybugs do a great job in the GH but I don't keep plumies in there. We also use lacewings and mantises for insect control.
Karyn

Hi,
Since Philip talked about the larve, have been watching for little odd bugs. See them on my plants, hope not eating leaves. I have left them alone. I have about 5 lady bugs constantly busy, saw a little bitty guy. So hope they stay.
Karen B.