Natural Insect Control of Aphids

Before I left for a week in Melbourne (Victoria, Australia), my Zucchini plants were sporting the new aphid look – the popular pest fashion of white film over most of the leaves.

I nibbled on my bottom lip and hoped my ‘natural pest management’ ideas would come into play.

When two white leaves became four, then six, I momentarily considered an organic pest management spray. But then fought the urge to interfere with nature. Instead I employed a little known secret outside of the Sustainability Nut Household… I sent out a Telepathic call to all Lady Beetles in Australia to come help me. (I think I may have been a Lady Beetle in my previous life!) because…

…they came. And they came in numbers!

The week that I was away the numbers of these magnificent Aphid munching beetles multiplied and by the time I got home they had the aphid problem under control. There were even Lady Beetle toddlers (LB larvae) scrabbling over the Zucchini Leaves assisting their parents. And I have to tell you those little guys are ferocious – they gobbled every aphid in sight. We’re just lucky they’re not the size of Rottweilers otherwise the Vegie Patch would be a place of horror and bloodshed!

I had to drag LTSH (Long Term Suffering Husband) outside to show him just how clever Nature is. And as with all scientifically, structurally-minded LTSH’s, he wanted to know how one would attract more Lady Beetles, and what the ratio of Lady Beetle to Zucchini Leaf was most effective.

My answer: who cares?!

But as to the question of attracting Lady Beetles, someone once said, if you need Lady Beetles grow Zucchinis and they’ll come.

Other research, as completed by the Utah State University is that Lady Beetles will come to your garden if you sprinkle some sugar water around. Their recipe is to melt 150g of sugar (please go for organic if you can) in warm water and then add enough cold water to make 1 litre. Sprinkle this around your garden with a watering can. The University’s research showed that the Lady Beetle population increased by 200 to 1300% within a few days!

LTSH’s answer to this research was “OMG! Will that many Lady Beetles cause a problem?”

My answer: “I don’t know – let’s find out!”

LTSH seemed happy with this. It fits in well with his ‘test and measure’ philosophy to… well, just about everything!

Now, what exactly do Lady Beetles do?

Well, first up I should tell you that what we call here in Australia ‘Lady Beetles’ are actually known as Ladybird Beetles and in some other countries, Ladybugs.

They are cute little round beetles that from the side look like a ball cut in half – an irridescent ball at that. The females are generally slightly larger than the males. They have hard forewings which protect soft back wings and their body. They have short little legs that they can pull in under their bodies when they feel threatened.
 
Most Lady Beetles are major gobblers of small insects like aphids, scale insects, white fly and mite. They also gobble up that white powder that the Aphids produce which is called Honeydew. Once the Lady Beetles have done the job of clearing your garden of Aphids and other nasties, they will probably move on. Awwww – that’s a sad prospect, I know. But they do need pests to survive. Did you know that a typical Lady Beetle can eat a few thousand Aphids in just one life time? Big appetites for such little guys. But don’t worry – keep your Zucchini Plant going and you’ll attract some Aphids and of course their main predator, the Lady Beetle. That’s nature for you!

There are a few species of Lady Beetles that do gobble plants. The most common one is the 28-Spot Lady Beetle. They are large orange Lady Beetles, with – you guessed it! – 28 spots. They and their larvae (hairy fat yellow munchers) gobble on your plants, leaving lacey patterns behind. For some really good pictures of Lady Beetles and their Larvae visit Brisbane Insects on Ladybird Beetles.

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