Where are all the predator insects?

xtsho said:

That sucks also.

You guys are having some bad luck.

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I got lucky. Stood the corn back up and cringed as I compressed top dressing. Hate soil compaction. Fortunately soil was saturated and roots looked mostly intact. I might get a couple sample baby corns in a day or two at worst. The cucumbers had the tendrils ripped off. But no real damage. A few brass hooks and they were vertical and on their way again. Maters had some branch damage but mostly just toppled cages. And one that got twisted 180 degrees. My Gladiolas are all snapped but a couple. Late in flower though. Bulbs should be good. About half my remaining fragrant Lillies, after deer buffet, had the blooms tore off. They will be back next year. Tweaked some sunflowers. LOL. And two of my girls got laid down in the garden. Should survive. Suns coming out should help stand them up. I can do no more ATM. So humid it is hard to breath. This is still a temperate zone right?

MICHI-CAN said:

I got lucky. Stood the corn back up and cringed as I compressed top dressing. Hate soil compaction. Fortunately soil was saturated and roots looked mostly intact. I might get a couple sample baby corns in a day or two at worst. The cucumbers had the tendrils ripped off. But no real damage. A few brass hooks and they were vertical and on their way again. Maters had some branch damage but mostly just toppled cages. And one that got twisted 180 degrees. My Gladiolas are all snapped but a couple. Late in flower though. Bulbs should be good. About half my remaining fragrant Lillies, after deer buffet, had the blooms tore off. They will be back next year. Tweaked some sunflowers. LOL. And two of my girls got laid down in the garden. Should survive. Suns coming out should help stand them up. I can do no more ATM. So humid it is hard to breath. This is still a temperate zone right?

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Where I'm at it's sunny, 85°, 37% humidity, And a slight breeze.

I found an assassin bug yesterday, just hanging out...

MustangStudFarm said:

I found an assassin bug yesterday, just hanging out...
View attachment 4630929

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I have seen 3 this entire year. No predators this year. Hope it's just a cycle.

MICHI-CAN said:

Got hit by the ultimate pest early this morning. Really high winds and monsoon type rain. I see corn and tomatoes down. Cucumbers pulled off the fence. All I can see from inside. Aprehensively awaiting it to stop raining to go asses the damage. Hope everyone has a better day than mine is starting out as.

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I just got power back yesterday afternoon. Luckily I had just tied up my tomato plants Sunday morning.


It is cool (and messed up) watching this thing shrivel up.

Finally had some most welcome guests show up. They seem to have lured a squadron of dragonflies that appear to be eating them. I hope they don't eat the Aussies I just ordered. Expensive snacks.

xtsho said:

I'm at inner Portland and I've even seen Coyotes here. Nice looking dog.

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Same.. We usually see 2 or 3 a year in our area, some the size of a sheppard. Love living in a city that has enough wild space that critters can still flourish. We have been in our house for 12 years and now we are in the final process of buying it. I'm stoked to know that in those years no chemicals of any kind has been applied to the yard. Looking forward to building raised beds and growing veggies for our neighbors who don't have the space to garden in the future.

farmingfisherman said:

Same.. We usually see 2 or 3 a year in our area, some the size of a sheppard. Love living in a city that has enough wild space that critters can still flourish. We have been in our house for 12 years and now we are in the final process of buying it. I'm stoked to know that in those years no chemicals of any kind has been applied to the yard. Looking forward to building raised beds and growing veggies for our neighbors who don't have the space to garden in the future.

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Been in our house just over twelve years. Took almost six to get the soil healthy again after previous owner's decades of poison. Six after that and it full of wildlife and almost where it should be.

Guess this is a general gardening thread. Love it. All posts are welcome. And my old noodle likes new ideas. Things I do work. Things I've seen here are amazing.

@farmingfisherman I hope you have a compost pile. Best investment in organics you can make.

Still waiting for priority ladybirds to arrive. But my native beetles are increasing everyday. Have 3 kinds so far. Got a beetle porn Pic. 2 real small, tan with dots, lady bugs making more.

I believe I inadvertently kept them away with preventative neem treatments. 6 days no spray. I have predators again. Just a thought. But beyond hotter and sunnier, only difference was preventive spray. Always when called for before. But a thought for some.

Killing bugs with bugs doesn't make sense to me! In the end you still have bugs!

Dilago said:

Killing bugs with bugs doesn't make sense to me! In the end you still have bugs!

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No. The predators leave when the food is gone. Better pest control than we are capable of. A positive sum equation.

Ladybirds arrived today. One day late. After traveling from NJ to Ontario, Oregon,Kentucky and then to MI. UPS label and their tracking claimed severe weather delayed the package. Was actually 6000+ mile air travel over me twice. Then it was delivered by some third party in a polo shirt and a loud 90's Cherokee. Is UPS that lowly nowdays? I only use USPS. Purchased from Good Guys Bugs. I think UPS is to blame. Well packaged and only 3 dead after the stress of repeated flights and high temps. The enclosed gel packs were thawed and soaked all the packaging inside the padded envelope the beetles were in from condensation. Pamphlets and instructions were dry outside the envelope, inside the box. I would recommend on the health and activity of the beetles and their packing. I would question seller on shipping issues.

Released them tonight after dark. Can't wait to watch them at work tomorrow. Happy thoughts and No worries. Peace.

MICHI-CAN said:

No. The predators leave when the food is gone. Better pest control than we are capable of. A positive sum equation.

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I tried it several times but the spider-mites always won the battle. I think we have a much better pest control when we treat our cuttings severe with pesticides. Start clean and finish clean. Not hating just stating.

Dilago said:

I tried it several times but the spider-mites always won the battle. I think we have a much better pest control when we treat our cuttings severe with pesticides. Start clean and finish clean. Not hating just stating.

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I would have to ask you to learn about how those poisons are killing everything from bugs to the planet. And they are threatening our very survival and that of the life forms we share this terrarium with. It is also cumulative and the stated half life or degradation period stated for them is deceptive. At that point most just breakdown to multiple toxins to further damage to yet another group of beneficial lifeforms.

I don't like the fact that you are of an opinion based on mis information. And petro-chemical's advertisements, LIES. I am saddened by the fact that you people are ignorant enough to poison themselves, their families, pets and surroundings. Which in turn expose more people to it and perpetuate the cycle of further concentrating these chemicals.

I truly hope you do some real research into non paid science on the subject. And find enlightenment. Once you use chemicals, you can never put them back. You are not just affecting you.

It doesn't get much realer then trying like it did.

Dilago said:

It doesn't get much realer then trying like it did.

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No offense intended. Just very strong feelings on the subject. I have witnessed the growths, tumors, illness and suffering from prolonged exposure. Grandfather had an apple orchard. Died of cancer with boils and growths on his feet and ankles. As well as lesions on his hands, forearms and neck. All chemical induced. And all but one of the orchard and farm owners who gave me my start in the right direction are a gone due the same cancers. It does matter. And once those chemicals are on your plants. They will be there when you consume them. Look at European agriculture laws and views of over the counter poisons we use. Most are illegal there. Not bought by the chemical industry.

I guess we choose to disagree. I made an attempt in earnest to help us a by informing you of my stance and reasons for it. Hopefully you will come around. But until then. Be very cautious with your pest management. And please at least contain the toxins.

Best wishes and healthy family and plants to you.

MICHI-CAN said:

No snails here. Just an occasional slug. But between the toads and the bed walls they don't get anywhere critical. My dahlias are pest free. I dropped them and a bunch of flowering ground cover. Only to have three nights below freezing. Figured they were hit. So I over seeded with more native ground cover and a bunch of old bachelor buttons I found behind a shelf. Surprise. Everything took off a couple weeks later and I believe the over crowded cover is distracting my usual pests with them. Cukes and cannibus have had issues though.

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You referring to the unusual cold snap we had in late spring? If so in my area temps dropped below 20 degrees 3 nights in a row. Ruined the wild blueberry crop which sucked. It did though greatly reduce the mosquito population. And that was a blessing after last season. Never in my life have I witnessed such a population. Made it nearly unbearable to be outdoors last summer.

cowboylogic said:

You referring to the unusual cold snap we had in late spring? If so in my area temps dropped below 20 degrees 3 nights in a row. Ruined the wild blueberry crop which sucked. It did though greatly reduce the mosquito population. And that was a blessing after last season. Never in my life have I witnessed such a population. Made it nearly unbearable to be outdoors last summer.

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Two years in a row now. Late spring and SURPRISE freezes. Got down in the 20's three nights here to. But I believe the crazy heat and drought dried up the standing water and killed the larvae. Coming back now. But way less than last year with all the rain.

Thanks for the post. I hope your day is relaxing enjoyable. Peace.

MICHI-CAN said:

Two years in a row now. Late spring and SURPRISE freezes. Got down in the 20's three nights here to. But I believe the crazy heat and drought dried up the standing water and killed the larvae. Coming back now. But way less than last year with all the rain.

Thanks for the post. I hope your day is relaxing enjoyable. Peace.

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Thanks for the reply, Happy Trails