Attracting Lady Bugs

digitS'

digitS'

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:yuckyuck

I've sprayed with insecticidal soap, pyrethrin and neem oil. Yes, some of those would take out ladybugs. There are still aphids ... but not too many.

In years before I began making the attempt to kill them, the aphids would at times be so bad on/in the cabbage that decay would set in. This ranks right up there with my worst gardening experiences. Rotting cabbages ...

Steve
 
digitS'

digitS'

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I was out cutting strawflowers yesterday afternoon.

Guess what? I saw 1 ladybug. What's there in their place? About 1 yellow jacket wasp on every other stem!

I was 1 careful flower harvester!

It does NOT make any sense to me that there are any aphids for these guys to be feasting on. I can only guess that there is strawflower nectar ... they seemed to be interested in the base of the flowers and not trying to get into the center ..?

There is a picture in the camera where I was trying to catch 3 of the bees. I'll check and see if it turned out okay.

:) Steve
 
digitS'

digitS'

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Several weeks ago:
DSC01040.JPG


Yesterday:
DSC01069-001.JPG

I count 7 wasps in the picture. See 'em?

There were 1 or 2 yellow jackets in the strawflowers last month. It's a-buzz with them right now!

Folks don't necessarily want wasps around their homes but, keep in mind, I don't live there. In fact, the nearest residence must be about 150 yards away. It's fine with me that they are here, I just have to be careful. Do you know, yellow jackets are death in a, umm, yellow jacket to cabbage loopers ;).

Steve
 
baymule

baymule

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I had to enlarge the photo, but I found them all. Yeah, I bet you are careful when you are in this garden!
 
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