Fly predators are the best!
When I moved here, first summer we had ridiculous number of flies -- presumably houseflies but dozens in every window because they got in no matter what.
I researched and bought fly predators -- actually smaller parasitic flies -- came as pupae that just had to be scattered like seeds... And no more fly problem. It was beautiful and I was sold to the idea of "Garden Patrol" -- natural predators to take care of target pests... then came the realization that you don't necessarily have to BUY Garden Patrol members if you quit killing them off and create a garden that will attract them... And the rest is history
- rainbowgardener
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This is pretty far O.T., but I was looking in to the fly predators in case I turn out to need them and bumped in to this:
Delphastus Pusillus / White Fly Predator
Delphastus is a small, shiny, black beetle, about one quarter the size of a ladybug, which feeds on several species of whitefly including greenhouse, sweetpotato (silverleaf) and avocado whitefly. If whitefly are not present they will also feed on spider mites. Both the adult beetle and larvae are predators and will eat whitefly eggs and larvae, but not adult whiteflies. Each container includes 25 live adults. (You can order them on line.)
This seems like something especially people with greenhouses who have problems with white flies and/or spider mites should know about it.
Maybe somewhere we should do a compilation thread of information like this....
Delphastus Pusillus / White Fly Predator
Delphastus is a small, shiny, black beetle, about one quarter the size of a ladybug, which feeds on several species of whitefly including greenhouse, sweetpotato (silverleaf) and avocado whitefly. If whitefly are not present they will also feed on spider mites. Both the adult beetle and larvae are predators and will eat whitefly eggs and larvae, but not adult whiteflies. Each container includes 25 live adults. (You can order them on line.)
This seems like something especially people with greenhouses who have problems with white flies and/or spider mites should know about it.
Maybe somewhere we should do a compilation thread of information like this....
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Well, I'm here! There do seem to be more flies in my house than I am used to, but they are not horse flies, just ordinary house flies. One of the first things we bought for the new house was fly swatters! But some of that is just that with all the moving, there have been lots of times with doors standing open.
I've been very lucky with weather for this move. Earlier it was mentioned about moving in Aug with 90+ weather and high humidity, at both ends of the move. In fact, at both ends of the move, we have had fall like weather, temps in low 80's, very low humidity, and beautiful blue skies. I couldn't have asked for better if I had ordered it myself!
Have really not even been out in the yard much so far. Very busy getting stuff moved into the house (and garage!, where a lot of the extra and so-far-unhomed stuff is staying) and then starting to unbox, unpack, figure out where everything goes.
In the meantime, we knew we would have to buy washer and dryer. Also turned out that the stove is terrible and we are buying a new range as well, and there was no garbage disposal. I compost as much as possible, but still it is nice not to have to worry about every little crumb. Needed to figure out how to get trash removal set up (it is privatized and lots of choices) and how to recycle. Needed to set up local bank accounts. Still don't have GA driver's licenses or license plates....
I am hoping today to at least get out and walk the yard more, figure out where compost piles go, etc.
I have to say people in the South really are different - that whole Southern hospitality/ Southern charm thing you always hear about is real. EVERYONE is so friendly and helpful! We still have to go back for one more load, stuff from the attic of the old house, stuff from the storage unit we rented when we had to get the old place decluttered, etc. But it includes our lawn mower, which hasn't made it on to the truck(s) so far. So we talked to our next door neighbor, who of course barely knows us yet, asked him where to find someone we could hire to mow the lawn until then. He immediately came by with his riding mower and mowed the whole (almost) half acre and wouldn't take any money for it. The flooring company laid down more than 1000 sq feet of hardwood floor (ripping out old wall to wall etc) on a handshake, no papers signed and no deposit up front, even though they had to lay out the cash for the materials. By the time we got here with the first load, the floor was down and it is beautiful! Who does that (do all that work for strangers with no up front money)?
And everyone is our neighbor. We were at the credit union, getting local checking accounts. The bank lady looked at our form and said Meadow Green? I just live on the next street over... you could throw a stone from your back yard to mine.
Lots of that happening all the time. Not a big coincidence - our town has pop 3700. Ft. Oglethorpe, the next town over, where we do a lot of our shopping, etc, has pop about 10,000 (up 37% since 2000, the area is growing). So with so few people, I guess it is not so surprising that the bank lady and the Home Depot guy who sold us the garbage disposal, and etc., turn out to be part of our community. But very different from what I was used to.
I am really liking this, though I sure never pictured myself living in rural Georgia!
I've been very lucky with weather for this move. Earlier it was mentioned about moving in Aug with 90+ weather and high humidity, at both ends of the move. In fact, at both ends of the move, we have had fall like weather, temps in low 80's, very low humidity, and beautiful blue skies. I couldn't have asked for better if I had ordered it myself!
Have really not even been out in the yard much so far. Very busy getting stuff moved into the house (and garage!, where a lot of the extra and so-far-unhomed stuff is staying) and then starting to unbox, unpack, figure out where everything goes.
In the meantime, we knew we would have to buy washer and dryer. Also turned out that the stove is terrible and we are buying a new range as well, and there was no garbage disposal. I compost as much as possible, but still it is nice not to have to worry about every little crumb. Needed to figure out how to get trash removal set up (it is privatized and lots of choices) and how to recycle. Needed to set up local bank accounts. Still don't have GA driver's licenses or license plates....
I am hoping today to at least get out and walk the yard more, figure out where compost piles go, etc.
I have to say people in the South really are different - that whole Southern hospitality/ Southern charm thing you always hear about is real. EVERYONE is so friendly and helpful! We still have to go back for one more load, stuff from the attic of the old house, stuff from the storage unit we rented when we had to get the old place decluttered, etc. But it includes our lawn mower, which hasn't made it on to the truck(s) so far. So we talked to our next door neighbor, who of course barely knows us yet, asked him where to find someone we could hire to mow the lawn until then. He immediately came by with his riding mower and mowed the whole (almost) half acre and wouldn't take any money for it. The flooring company laid down more than 1000 sq feet of hardwood floor (ripping out old wall to wall etc) on a handshake, no papers signed and no deposit up front, even though they had to lay out the cash for the materials. By the time we got here with the first load, the floor was down and it is beautiful! Who does that (do all that work for strangers with no up front money)?
And everyone is our neighbor. We were at the credit union, getting local checking accounts. The bank lady looked at our form and said Meadow Green? I just live on the next street over... you could throw a stone from your back yard to mine.
Lots of that happening all the time. Not a big coincidence - our town has pop 3700. Ft. Oglethorpe, the next town over, where we do a lot of our shopping, etc, has pop about 10,000 (up 37% since 2000, the area is growing). So with so few people, I guess it is not so surprising that the bank lady and the Home Depot guy who sold us the garbage disposal, and etc., turn out to be part of our community. But very different from what I was used to.
I am really liking this, though I sure never pictured myself living in rural Georgia!
- applestar
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Sounds great, Rainbowgardener. I am SO GLAD that your moving process has been so auspicious. I guess it's going to take a little getting used to (on both sides) when you translocate from an entirely different region, but that's so nice that your neighbors and folks you have become acquainted with are being so neighborly and helpful, welcoming.
What fun to plan your garden and explore. Have a wonderful day!
What fun to plan your garden and explore. Have a wonderful day!