Last week we took the opportunity to reintroduce ourselves, for the benefit of first time readers.  As promised in that blog, today we are posting a brief overview of the five most popular beneficial insects for your garden. The text was actually published last July on our blog site and we are reproducing parts of it here today:

“Introducing beneficial insects to the garden to keep insect pests in check is the best way to becoming more environmentally friendly.  Biofloris is committed to providing the highest quality beneficials for the garden as well as educational support for release and establishment in your garden.

Quick reminder:

• A predator in this context is an insect that catches and consumes other insects (prey). Please click here for more information on pest insects.
• A parasitizer in this context is an insect that inserts it’s own eggs into the larva or egg of another host and consumes the host internally

Convergent Lady Beetles, Lady Birds, Lady Bugs (Hippodamia convergens)

Convergent Lady Beetles, Lady Birds, Lady Bugs

Of all the beneficial insects around, the convergent Lady Bug is probably the most familiar to homeowners and children alike as a friend to your garden.  Both the larva and adult have a voracious appetite for many different species of aphids; so encouraging these pretty little beetles in the garden makes good sense. The only drawback is that it is often difficult to find them in local stores or garden centers…

Beneficial Nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae & Heterohabditis bacteriophora)

Beneficial nematodes

…to control various lawn grubs such as Japanese Beetle, June Beetle and European Chafer.  These microscopic worms are a powerful tool to grub control if released under the right conditions. …

Brown Lacewings (Hemerobius spp.)

Brown Lacewings

Unlike the more familiar green lacewings, brown lacewings are active at night.  They control numerous garden pests such as mites, leafhoppers, mealybugs, thrips and whitefly.

Parasitic Wasps (Trichogramma spp.)

Parasitic Wasps

This is one of the smallest parasitic wasps around, and the best thing about this wasp is that it parasitizes over 200 different spp. of moth and butterfly eggs before the larva emerge and damage plant foliage.

Praying Mantis (Mantis spp.)

Praying Mantis

A fascinating appearance and front legs that strike with lightening speed, these highly predacious insects feed on flies, moths, crickets and grasshoppers, to name just a few.  They generally are more easily established in gardens using organic practices…”

http://www.biofloris.com/blog_en/2010/07/beneficial-insects-for-the-garden/

Next week, we’ll provide a brief reminder as to how to ensure proper application of beneficial insects in your garden.

Terrie Greco, B.A.; HLT Dip.

Ah yes, the ‘dog days of summer’ are here, and along with the hot humid weather comes a not so attractive disease on your plants called Powdery Mildew. 

When this disease starts rearing its ugly head around mid July, it looks like Mother Nature has sprinkled icing sugar on the leaves.  Small powdery white spots begin to appear randomly on the leaves of numerous hosts.  As the spots become larger, and eventually merge, photosynthesis is reduced; the leaves dry out, turn brown and hang their heads down in shame on the stem of the plant. 

Unfortunately, numerous plants succumb to this disease – Sunflowers , Zinnia (Zinnia spp.), Rose Bushes (Rosa spp.) Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) and Lilac (Syringa spp.) – to name just a few. 

Here is a picture to help you identify Powdery Mildew: 

Powdery Mildew

The fungal spores are found in the soil and spread by water droplets, so although it’s impossible to stop rainfall, you can practice a few good cultural habits to minimize the spread of Powdery Mildew throughout the garden. Here are a few suggestions to help you combat Powdery Mildew:  

1. See to adequate spacing between plants allows air to circulate in the garden and leaves will dry off more quickly after rainfall or watering.
2. Minimize overhead watering if you can.
3. Use garden mulch to reduce water splash.
4. Remove leaves when the first signs of Powdery Mildew appear.
5. Do not compost foliage with Powdery Mildew or this disease will be back again in full force next summer.

In her book ECOLOGICAL GARDENING, Marjorie Harris provides additional tips to deal with Powdery Mildew such as using baking soda and/or Epsom salts. 

In and of itself, this disease does not kill plants, but leaves them weaker over time.  

Below are a couple of useful links with some photos of Powdery Mildew.  

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/IPM/english/tomatoes/diseases-and-disorders/powdery-mildew.html 

http://www.umassvegetable.org/soil_crop_pest_mgt/disease_mgt/tomato_powdery_mildew.html