DIY predator insects?

[magiccannabus]

So each area seems to have it's own bugs that keep gnats and other crap in check. I live in the Mid-West, and I would like to know if anyone knows a good way to get predatory nematodes, insects, etc.. I can get forest mulch/soil near here, but I have no idea what that might contain. What's the best way to find the bugs I want to get a healthy cycle of life going inside my grow room?

 

[sourpuss]

Not sure but I think bringing in outdoor mulch might make it worse.... I dont know for sure tho... I know the centipedes and spiders are loving the gnats.....

 

[magiccannabus]

Funny you mention that, whenever I've had lots of little jumping spiders around my grow space the gnats seem to never be a threat, but whenever I don't see any of them I start having problems like this. Not sure I want to bring a bunch of spiders in my home though lol I have seen centipedes in the compost outside, should I try to capture some of them?

 

[sourpuss]

Not sure if they r the same... mine r long leg looks like hair is so thin type. Really fast type.

 

[magiccannabus]

yeah these suckers are super fast

 

[magiccannabus]

I went out around sundown and opened the bottom of my compost bin and took a good look for them. I located about 6-8 of them and put two of them in a small planter that's struggling and the rest in one of the big planters(the one that contains my least valuable plant). We'll see how this pans out! They burrowed into the mulch very quickly. I wonder if there is some from my compost already living in the big planters and that's why they've weathered the gnat issues better.

I hope this works. I'm disabled and have zero funds right now. I was lucky to get the seeds I did and I want to get things back to where it's safe to plant some. I also have cloning to worry about!

 

[magiccannabus]

Huzzah! I found a pretty legit source that lists fungus gnats specifically as prey to garden centipedes!

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/garden_centipede.htm

Edit - by the way they are very fast, but they do not climb well. Catch them quick with a hand shovel and then shake them into a empty cottage cheese container(or something similar), and they will not be able to climb out. Did I mention they are fast????!

 

[bigshrimp]

I've introduced rove beetles through my outdoor compost -> worm compost -> Soil. Good little critters, they keep the mites in check and are ready to go when gnats etc. show up.

 

[Microbeman]

I've also used rove beetles from outdoors with tremendous success.

 

[Seaf0ur]

Bringing in critters from outdoors is something I do often... what you want to look for is an area where leaves collect for years that doesn't get disturbed... I've found spots in city alleyways where fences meet garages... look from spring through summertime obviously... find patches of decaying leaf litter without green things growing in it... remove the top layers to the black leaf mold underneath... collect it and stick it in your pots... it is in this material you will find the decomposers, and the predators that feed on them and because there are no live plants in the direct area, the chances of getting pests is greatly reduced...

 

[DONAJTHEIII]

I always wished someone would start a thread for breeding your own predatory mites that would be awesome. But there really not expensive to buy at least the ones I get like swirskii/cucumeris /nematodes. I guess we could just leave it to the pros too lol. There way easier than doing sprays in my opinion to and safer. Just need proper environment


AJAE

 

[thatonedude]

I don't know what kind of mites I have because I don't have a scope, but my worm bin harbors fast moving predatory mites. I have observed them attacking composting mites and fungus gnat larva. I use the castings in my soil mix so I can only assume I have those same mites in my soil. although I never see them. but they are there in small numbers im sure. huge numbers of them in the worm bin

 

[Mikell]

I always wished someone would start a thread for breeding your own predatory mites that would be awesome. But there really not expensive to buy at least the ones I get like swirskii/cucumeris /nematodes. I guess we could just leave it to the pros too lol. There way easier than doing sprays in my opinion to and safer. Just need proper environment


AJAE

I just posted a link to propagating your own H. miles in the Beneficial sticky. I highly recommend to anyone reading up on supplementing predator insect populations with alternative food sources, for one-off efficacy and long term population maintenance.

 

[Useful Idiot]

Not an insect..but I have had him/her for quite some time.

Not an insect..but I have had him/her for quite some time.

 

[tleaf jr.]

what does that lil guy eat?

 

[DONAJTHEIII]

View Image

ahahahaha holy fuck no way !!!!


This is the most badass pic on the mag right now !


please tell us more about this creature.



AJAE

 

[Useful Idiot]

what does that lil guy eat?

Tleaf...he eats gnats,any mites,other lil bugs we don't want around.

 

[Useful Idiot]

ahahahaha holy fuck no way !!!!


This is the most badass pic on the mag right now !


please tell us more about this creature.



AJAE

Thanks Don. It's an eastern red-spotted newt. I put some plants outside one day for some natural light and to do a lil cleaning. He must have been on one of the plants. Had it ever since

 

[Granger2]

Cute... -granger

 

[mk6]

I found this guy on my out door grow dont know how well they'd do indoor especially if they dont have clean water. but they did a good job on the caterpillars.