[tenoftrades]

I wanted to use spider mite predators, but I would have had to wait was 4 days longer. Just hoping the ladybugs are enough to eat the small colony and get me through the next 3 - 4 weeks. Thanks for everyone's input.

[straintester]

Originally Posted by tenoftrades

I wanted to use spider mite predators, but I would have had to wait was 4 days longer. Just hoping the ladybugs are enough to eat the small colony and get me through the next 3 - 4 weeks. Thanks for everyone's input.

Spider mite predators will work but it takes a long time to build up that establishment
Ladybugs will work but you can't use a lot of other treatmants otherwise you'll kill them off too

And for the record to the guy who says he doesn't use neem oil.
That is your loss cause neem oil is probably the best preventative measure you can do to your plants against both pest and diseases.
It helps the plants ammunity and gives them a nice healthy sheen which protects them.

I wouldn't grow WITHOUT it

There are a lot of natural products that work effectively for this like cinnamon , clove, or lavender oil which don;t smell bad either
Another excellent all natural product is called mite rid which is neem oil based with ecalyptus in it

Good luck all the same

[krunchbubble]

ladybugs dont eat spidermites.......

[straintester]

My ladybugs didn't know this then cause they worked great for me!!!!
Some books say that ladybugs don't eat spidermites
It 'might' be debatable BUT it absolutely certain that they eat loads of spidermite eggs.
Since the mite has such a short life span, they will eventaully die off. What keeps this infestation going is from the eggs they produce.
I had first hand experience in watching these guys do their thing with the only spidermite infestation i have ever had and purchased my ladybugs from a cannabis growing store in Canada. This guy knew I was a serious organic gardener and suggested them and I am glad i took his advice.
They are messy, lots die off but they worked great!

[krunchbubble]

Originally Posted by straintester

My ladybugs didn't know this then cause they worked great for me!!!!
Some books say that ladybugs don't eat spidermites
It 'might' be debatable BUT it absolutely certain that they eat loads of spidermite eggs.
Since the mite has such a short life span, they will eventaully die off. What keeps this infestation going is from the eggs they produce.
I had first hand experience in watching these guys do their thing with the only spidermite infestation i have ever had and purchased my ladybugs from a cannabis growing store in Canada. This guy knew I was a serious organic gardener and suggested them and I am glad i took his advice.
They are messy, lots die off but they worked great!

i worked at two grow stores. the reps from natures control said ladybugs dont eat spidermites, but our customers kept buying them for that purpose....
boss didn't mind, they kept coming back and buying more and more....

[JohnnyHopkins]

Originally Posted by morrisgreenberg

i agree, i used to swear by lady bugs, they are only good in large amounts only when you have a small mite population and that wont totally rid your garden, a heavy colony of mites will lynch the lady bugs. you want the master recipe on how to get rid of mites? get on ebay and pick up an ounce of Floramite. they sell small amounts like this for $20. then pick up a bottle of Azatrol. you spray the plants down with flora mite and add azatrol to your water at 3ml/gallon. this is the only thing i have tried and it works. forget pyrethrium bombs and no pest strips and azamax, unless you are using expensive products you have no chance

For someone who has tried only one thing "this is the only thing i have tried and it works", you sure have a lot of opinions.

If you spray diluted coke onto your ladybugs before you release them, it will keep them from flying away but they will still be able to hop around and eat everything

[morrisgreenberg]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHopkins

For someone who has tried only one thing "this is the only thing i have tried and it works", you sure have a lot of opinions.

If you spray diluted coke onto your ladybugs before you release them, it will keep them from flying away but they will still be able to hop around and eat everything

dude what i meant was it was the ONLY thing that worked for me, i tried them all, i am sorry for the misrepresentation, i used all the insectisidal soap, neem, dont bug me by fox farm, rotenone pyrethrium concentrate. i have a whole cabinet full of these products and the only combo that works perfectly is floramite and azatrol. i use it in rotation and as a combo cus a highly repsected member told me about it . again forgive me please for not being specific

[F. Dupp]

Predatory mites and lady bugs are a complete fucking waste of time and money. Get some Forbid and Floramite.

[straintester]

Originally Posted by krunchbubble

i worked at two grow stores. the reps from natures control said ladybugs dont eat spidermites, but our customers kept buying them for that purpose....
boss didn't mind, they kept coming back and buying more and more....

So are you suggesting all the customers were dumb including me?

[captianchronic]

Ladybugs eat soft bodied bugs.

https://www.ladybuglady.com
Ladybugs eat Aphids. Aphids are soft bodied insects that suck the juices out of plants. If you have roses in your garden, you have seen aphids. Aphids also come in a variety of colors and not all ladybugs like all the "flavors" of aphids. Ladybugs will also feed on scale insects and plant mites.

Lady bugs will eat young mites and larva. Like predatory mites they will not eat all mites.