GREEN LACEWING
Green lacewing (known as Chrysoperla rufilabris) are widely used to control many different pests. Alot of adult lacewings are not pest insects killers, they live on foods such as nectar, pollen and honeydew. It is their predacious offspring that get the job done. Lacewing lays her eggs on the foliage of plants. When the eggs hatch a tiny predatory larva emerges ready to eat pests. Lacewing larvae are also known as aphid lions. They are very small when they emerge from the egg, but grow to 3/8 of an inch long. Lacewing larvae attack their prey by grabbing them with sucking jaws and then inject a paralyzing venom. These jaws then suck out the body fluids of the pest. Of all the man-made raised beneficial insects, the lacewing is the most aggressive and widest need for pests of field crops, orchards and greenhouses. They will attack the eggs and the immature stages of most pests such as: aphids, thrips, spider mites, sweet potato whitefly, greenhouse whitefly, mealybugs, leafhoppers, and the eggs and caterpillars of most pest moths. A lacewing larva can devour 200 or more pests or pest eggs a week. When the larvae stage is complete they pupate by building a cocoon of silken thread. In about 5 days the adults emerge to mate and the life cycle goes on with approximately 4-6 weeks of life. The female may deposit more than 200 eggs. In order to keep lacewings around your area encourage them to stay with nectar and honeydew to encourage reproduction and livability. Wheast is a commercial nutrient sold to help in their reproduction. If you decide to buy and use lacewings in your pest management program be sure to do so before the pests are realy active. Waiting till the last minute will not bring favorable results. Start with a low # of lacewings and build up to what is necessary. Some people search for golden eye lacewing insect.
Want to build your own web site?
jim ellison enterprises |
