GREEN LACEWINGS

USE: Green lacewings (Chrysopa Carnea) are predators of many Species of pest insects and mites. These attractive pale green insects are an effective natural enemy of aphids, mites, white flies, mealybugs, leaf-hoppers, trips, all types of moth and butterfly eggs, and caterpillars.

LIFE CYCLE: Lacewing adults are 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long. They have transparent, pale green wings and bright metallic gold eyes (they are also known as "Golden Eyes"). They have a characteristic fluttering flight, and sometimes rise from the plants when disturbed, especially at twilight. Adult Lacewings are not themselves predaceous, but feed on honeydew, nectar and pollen. They lay tiny pale green eggs on hair like stalks attached to the underside of leaves or on bark of trees. In several days the Lacewings larvae hatch from these eggs.

The larvae, which are active searchers, will immediately begin moving over the plant in search of food. These larvae are grayish-brown in color, and 3/8 of an inch long, and have pincher-shaped jaws which they use to seize their pray and suck the juices from its body. Because they are such voracious aphid eaters (consuming as many as 1,000 aphids each per day), they are called "Aphid Lions". They also devour a great variety of citrus mealbugs, cottony-cushion scale, and the eggs of many caterpillars. Maturing after two to three weeks, the Lacewing larvae spin a small cocoon of silken thread. The adult Lacewing emerges five days later by neatly cutting a round, hinged lid at the top of the cocoon. The cycle then repeats itself. The life cycle of Lacewings is directly influenced by climate conditions. Under summer conditions a complete life cycle can occur within a month, thus many generations can occur each year. Lacewings live through winter as adults, but with difficulty; they should be recolonized each springs. Do not feel discouraged because you have difficulty locating the Lacewings once they are released. The Larvae are very secretive and do most of their foraging at night when water is available.

DIRECTIONS: The Lacewings are shipped to you as eggs, and will probably be hatching or very close to hatching by the time you receive them. We mix the Lacewing eggs with rice hulls and moth eggs for food. The rice hulls serve two functions: first, when the Lacewings hatch, they are very hungry! (In fact, they are so hungry that they often resort to cannibalism if there is no food source available). The rice hulls provide separation so they are not as apt to eat each other. The second reason is that since they are so small, it is easier to distribute them if they are in a carrier to give you more volume to work with. A thimble would hold about 10,000 Lacewing eggs!

Sprinkle them around your plants. If you are putting them in trees, you can place small amounts in paper drinking cups and staple them to the leaves. The Lacewing will crawl out and up into the tree or plant. The larvae will feed for about 3 weeks, then they will roll up into a little white pupae and emerge as adult in about 1 week ready to lay eggs! When looking for the newly hatched Lacewing larvae, remember they are quite small, about the size of the pale green or gray egg from which they came, so you may have difficulty seeing them.

WATER WASHING: In the event your plants are already infested with aphids or other harmful insects. It is advisable to "water wash" your plants first. This involves spraying the plants with water, thus knocking the insects to the ground. The lacewing larvae with establish themselves more quickly and prevent further re-infestations.

USE: Beneficial Nematodes (BN) attack more than 230 kinds of soil dwelling and wood boring pests, such as flea larvae, white grubs, cutworms, corn root worms, strawberry weevils, gypsy moth larvae, cabbage root maggots, fungus gnat larvae, and many more.

RELEASE: BN may be released by spraying with water, mixing with mulch and applying directly to the soil or potting mix, or injecting into burrows. They may be used any time of year, as long as the ground is not frozen. Do not release in direct sunlight, as this will kill them. See directions for details.

COVERAGE: Will cover up to 2,000 square feet, but faster results are obtained with higher concentrations.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Beneficial Nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) are microscopic in size and cannot be seen with the naked eye. But the 7 million active units in each pint container will hunt down, penetrate, and kill most soil dwelling pests.

BN will remain effective for about 2 years, but annual applications are recommended. Refrigerate if not using immediately (35-40 degrees).

BN will attack over wintering adult insects, pupae, diapausing larvae, and grubs when they are in the soil, bark, or even ground litter.

BN do not affect humans, animals, or plants. They are completely compatible with beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and Praying mantids and do not harm earthworms.

B E N E F I C I A L N E M A T O D E D I R E C T I O N S

There are 3 ways to apply the Beneficial Nematodes (BN). Find your pest on the list at the bottom, then use the recommended treatment number.

PEST USE NUMBERS BELOW TO SELECT TREATMENT ABOVE

Artichoke Moth Larvae 2: Spray Artichoke heads

Black Currant Borers 2: Spray cuttings or bushes

Black Vine Weevils 1: Hoe into soil or add to potting soil

Cabbage Root Maggots 1: Put in seed furrows or on roots

Carpenter Worms 3: Inject burrows

Codling Moth Larvae 2: Spray tree trunks in Fall, Spring. Summer

Corn Earworms 2: Spray or 3: inject silks weekly

Corn Rootworms 1: Apply in seed furrows

Cucumber Beetles 1: Mix in mulch or apply in seed furrows

Cutworms 1: Apply as mulch, keep moist

Flea Larvae 2: Spray on lawns or soil. Keep moist

Flea Beetles 1: Mix in mulch or apply in seed furrows

Fungus Gnat Larvae 1: Mix into potting soil

Gypsy Moth Larvae 2: Spray on lawns to kill migrating larvae

Japanese Beetles 2: Spray on lawns or 1: Mix into mulch

Mole Crickets 1: Apply to burrows. Keep moist

Onion Maggots 1: Apply to furrows.

Poplar Clearwing Borers 3: Inject burrows

Raspberry Crown Borers 1: Mix into soil near base

Sod Webworms 2: Spray onto sod. Keep moist

Strawberry Weevils 1: Mix into soil and/or apply to roots

Tobacco Budworms 2: Spray or 3: inject flower buds weekly

Weevils 1: Mix into mulch or on transplant roots

White Grubs 2: Spray or 1: Mix into soil

Wireworms 1: Apply to seed furrows or transplant roots

USE: The tiny Trichogramma (tri-cho-gram'-ma) are the best known of all egg parasites. These tiny egg parasites will be sent to you packaged 4,000 eggs glued on a card. They attack over 200 species of pest insects and have been successfully used against most moth and butterfly eggs as well as most caterpillars in all kinds of habitats throughout the world.

LIFE CYCLE: The Trichogramma lays its eggs inside the eggs of lepidopterous pests (its host). One to fifty eggs will be deposited, depending on the size of the egg to be parasitized. When the Trichogramma eggs hatch into larvae inside the pest egg, they immediately feed upon the immature pests killing them before they are able to hatch. The Trichogramma completes its development inside the pest egg and emerges as an adult. Then the cycle begins again. (See diagram)

DIRECTIONS: These tiny egg parasites will be sent to you packaged one card-square to a cup. Each card-square has a colony of approximately 4,000 moth eggs glued onto it. Inside these moth eggs, the Trichogramma will be developing and feeding on the moth egg.

Uncap the container and place in the fork of the tree, or carefully remove the square and hang on a branch with a string or tape to keep away from ants. Attach the tape to the smooth side of the square, try not to touch the side with the eggs glued on to it. Try to place in an area that will be protected from rain.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The best time of day for release is afternoon to evening, when outside temperatures are from 70 to 80 degrees. This will allow the Trichogramma do adjust to their surroundings in the warmer evening hours. Moisture is critical to the success of all beneficial insects. Keep moisture levels up in your garden to provide dew water for these beneficial workers