Commercial Grower        Interiorscaper        Homeowner

Homeowners and Biological Control

Most think of beneficial insects as strictly meat eaters but many require other food types in their diet, such as pollen and nectar.  One beneficial we all know and love is the ladybird beetle.  She is famous for her voracious appetite of  aphids and other pests, but did you know that some species such as the Spotted Lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata ) require large amounts of pollen in their diet?  Up to 50% of their diet is made up of pollen. So by planting plants that produce pollen and nectar you can draw in many good guys to your yard.  Just make sure you never treat these plants with pesticides.  Want to read more? Read my article on Learn2Grow on Attracting Beneficials to Your Garden

• Are you sure you need them?  Often Mother Nature has done her job and pests are already dead.  Many are killed by parasites leaving the dead bodies of the pests behind. 
• Have you identified your pest correctly? Biological control is an exact science, you need to know what your pests are in order to get the purchase the right beneficial. 
• Do you know where your beneficials are coming from? Most are laboratory reared here in the US or Europe but some are harvested from the wild.  Ones harvested can sometimes carry diseases and parasites.  Do you know where ladybird beetles come from? Read about buying ladybug.
• Shipping costs.  Always look at shipping costs because most beneficials are sent overnight and this can significantly add to the cost.
• Where can homeowners can buy beneficial insects, predatory mites and beneficial nematodes.  See below  

• BioBest - One of the largest suppliers in the world of biological control agents.  They are now selling homeowners select products.
• BioLogic Company - Producer of beneficial nematodes.
• BioWorks - Traditionally supplies the commercial grower but now selling products to homeowners like RootShield (biological disease management) and beneficial nematodes.
• Gardens Alive - Supplies assortment of organic and biological control products.
• Natural Insect Control Supplies assortment of organic and biological control products. Based in Canada.
• Peaceful Valley - Supplies assortment of organic and biological control products.
• The Environmental Factor - Beneficial nematodes (The Nemaglobe) and other eco friendly products. They even have an instructional video on YouTube on how to apply beneficial nematodes.