Releasing Lacewings and Good Results with Worm Castings Against Ants

Question from Dave:
A couple of observations to share:

1. Lacewings from Gardens Alive arrived in a tiny container – like the one that contains salsa with your take out taco’s. Hard to believe there’s 10,000 lacewing larvae in there. They are cannibalistic so they are packed in wheat husks to provide some separation. I was wondering how to get them in the trees. Directions said use a dixie cup stapled to the tree. But, I remembered your comment about nasturciums (high pollen blooms) providing nutrition to beneficial predatory insects. I used the nasturcium blooms as cups and nested the blooms in the citrus trees.
2. the worm castings are effective directly on aphids. I found aphids feasting on a rose bud and sprinkled worm castings directly on them. Within an hour their bodies turned from green to brown and the next day they were gone. In this same rose bush I saw the ants trying to get at the lacewing larvae as you described in your book. Ants are on the retreat with all the worm casting material spread around.

Thanks again for all your great work!

Do you have any speaking engagements in the Palos Verdes area?

Answer from Pat:
Thank you so much for your vivid descriptions of releasing lacewings in your garden and also for reporting back on the effects you saw of earthworm castings on ants. I applaud you for watching these miracles of nature taking place. Thank you for taking the time to report back with good results. It is a great satisfaction when we can see organic controls work and know we don’t have to resort to chemicals to control pests.

When I released lacewing larvae in my garden I first spread earthworm castings on the ground under the climbing plant where I released the larvae. The earthworm castings stopped the parade of ants that had previously been climbing up the stems of the plants. I then tied the box containing the lacewing larvae onto the plant. The eggs had not hatched but a day or two later I saw the little creatures walk safely out of the box onto the stems and foliage of the plant. They were shaped like little alligators. I used a magnifying glass but even without it I could see them. This was years ago but I still see the adult lacewings in my garden from time to time, so I know the larvae are here too.

Yes, I will be speaking this year near Palos Verdes. I will be speaking in Long Beach at the Rancho Los Alamitos on September 18, 2010 and on September 25, 2010 in Huntington Beach. Please see the schedule of events elsewhere on this website for details. I will be speaking at Rogers Gardens in Corona Del Mar on May 2 at 9:00 am.