Beneficial Bugs & Beautiful Gardens!
How we use them to grow our annuals!
The term ‘Beneficial Bugs’ encompasses a wide variety of insects that assist farmers and gardeners with pollination and pest control. Here at the Garden Factory® we use these beneficial bugs to help grow our annuals. In keeping with modern organic and eco-friendly pest control methods, we have chosen to use certain species of beneficial bugs in our new greenhouse to prevent and manage any bug problems that may arise. The bugs that we release into the greenhouse will only survive as long as they have a food source - that being the undesirable pests. You do not need to be at all concerned about bringing a plant from our greenhouse into your home. These microscopic bugs live short durations, and feed only on the unwanted bugs. The species of bugs we use to protect our plants are listed below.
Phytoline Persimilis
Phytoline Persimilis is a well-known predator of the two-spotted spider mite. The adults and young stages of Phytoline Persimilis will feed on both the adults and eggs of the spider mite. This can help prevent those aggravating spider mites that can infest your plants.
Amblyline Cucumeris
Amblyline Cucumeris is a key treatment for the control of Western Flower Thrips. The Amblyline Cucumeris feeds on thrips larvae, eliminating them before they become a problem.
Orius Insidiosus
Orius Insidiosus, also known as Minute Pirate Bugs, are generalist predators that feed on aphids, spider mites, scale insects, insect eggs, thrips, and whiteflies, among others.
Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Lady Beatle) adult females lay eggs in the egg sack of adult female mealybugs. Their larval stage lasts 12-17 days, during which a single larvae may consume 250 mealybugs.
The beneficial bugs play a major role in keeping your gardens safe and healthy. In the production of our annuals we slip a small biodegradable packet into the soil in which the bugs disperse. Remember these are not bad bugs and they only live off the unwanted insects, therefore once these unwanted insects are not around the beneficial bugs die off. This is one eco-friendly way for gardeners to get rid of the unwanted bugs that infest our beautiful flowers & gardens.
