Different approach to getting rid of aphids

[Andy Hamilton]

We left our purple sprouting broccoli in this year, hoping to get some seeds from it. Three of the plants got infested with greenfly pretty early in the year - about March time. We left it there untreated as it had been harvested already. The area then attracted an abundance of ladybirds. We then picked up the ladybirds and moved them to the broad beans a few weeks ago.

This seems to have worked a treat, I have only had to spray (with washing up liquid) my broad beans once as the ladybirds have done such a good job of eating them. Not sure if this would have worked if we did have such a mild winter, but worked a treat this year.

[red]

cool... there is something in attracting their prey then.

I moved a ladybird to my red cabbages.. and watched with satisfaction as it tucked in big time
(actually reading that I wonder if I have lost the plot these days.. but hey, after spending so much energy raising these plants.....)

[Clara]

Glad it´s not just me....

I´ve been carrying my patented Ladybird Transport Vessel TM (aka a matchbox), so that I can move free roaming ladybirds to my broad beans - they are working wonders!

[Thurston Garden]

Spooky timing seeing this thread!

I was thinking about starting one about my "Putter" pronounced pooter, presumable because you 'put' ladybirds in it! - spotted it in a Bob Flowerdew book a few years back and it works wonders and becomes wholly addictive!

I will take my camera to the polytunnel this afternoon and post some pics of it tonight! It's a kind of ladybirds harvester!

[Thurston Garden]

Right, here we go! Pooter, Putter, Puter, call it what you will - it's technically a jam jar with 2 holes in the lid, 2 pieces of hose (one longer than the other) and a bit of gauze (I cut the corner off a new dishcloth) and a rubber band.

Both pieces of hose are fitted into holes drilled in the jar lid. The holes need to be a fairly close match for the hose, or you could seal it with come glue/silicone. On the end of the shorter piece of hose (the end which will be inside the jar) fit the gauze or dishcloth corner with a rubber band.

Then you are ready to hoover! Put some grass in the bottom of the jar and head in search of ladybirds. Having just scythed large area of thistles, I took a kneeling mat 'cos you spend most of your time on your knees!

Once you have located said ladybird, place the short hose in your mouth, the long hose end over the unsuspecting 'bird and suck. A short suck is all that's necessary unless it's a stubborn 'bird holding on for dear life!

The 'bird lands safely in the grass in the jar, and the gauze stops it being sucked up the short pipe into your mouth.

My before and after pics!



20 minutes later:



I easily had 50 ladybirds in the jar within 20 minutes. It becomes seriously addictive! My heart began to race when I found 3 in a cluster and then another 4 nearby! Perhaps this could become an Olympic sport? Or we could just have a competition on the forum to see who can suck up the most ladybirds in 20 minutes!

Post pics of your ladybird hoovers on here - there is likely to be some modifications/improvements! (Thanks to Bob Flowerdew mind, it was his idea in the first place )

[wulf]

A great idea - and pictures as well! What do you do once you have finished collecting? Shake them out or just place the jar near an aphid infested plant and leave the ladybirds to exit when they feel hungry?

Wulf

[Thurston Garden]

Wulf - either, or both! I distributed these aphid muncher onto my basil, peppers and toms, but then left the jar (with the grass in) for the remainder to roam as they pleased.

My knees are pretty stung mind, despite the kneeling mat

There is a (very short) video of a 'bird being hoovered on my blog. This technology never ceases to amaze me!

http://thurstongarden.wordpress.com/200 ... ladybirds/

[Magpie]

I had always thought it was the baby (larval?) 'birds that did the eating - you learn something new every day!!

Had a few good frosts here, which bring the birds in, so most of my aphids have perished, one way or the other.

[Muddypause]

A great idea

What he said!

[Andy Hamilton]

I had always thought it was the baby (larval?) 'birds that did the eating - you learn something new every day!!

Had a few good frosts here, which bring the birds in, so most of my aphids have perished, one way or the other.

It is both it is just that the 'baby' ladybirds eat much more than the fully grown ones.

As for the puter - what they said.