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09-28-2006, 10:40 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queens, NY, USA
Age: 28
Posts: 7,299
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Wierd Orchid Friend? Or Foe?
So I have heard of the legendary pest killing powers of the Lady Bug. And for many years I have tried to get one to live in my vivariums.
The other night I found one in my apartment, and thinking about my recent troubles with mites, I decided to put the lady bug on my phal. Tonight, I look at my phal, and who do you think I find still walking on my phal? Little Miss Lady Bug.
This is the longest I have ever been able to get one to stay in one place for me.
So this means either
A)The lady bug is making dinner out of my Phal, yet I see no damage
or
B)She has found food(mites!!!!  ) and is devastating their numbers as we speak  .
Yet again, I see no damage from mites either.
Whats up???
__________________
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, LOTR, Fellowship of the Ring
Last edited by Tindomul : 09-28-2006 at 10:45 PM.
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09-29-2006, 08:08 AM
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Orchid Board
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Join Date: May 2005
Zone: 6b
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,035
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Your lady friend could be dead  hehe |
09-29-2006, 09:13 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 544
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Could be an asian lady beetle. They were imported for release as a natural predator (since they breed fast). Unfortunately, they breed much faster than they eat, it seems. They are quite a pest around here, this time of year they start heading indoors for winter hiding spots. One lady beetle is cute, a few thousand in your living room, not so cute.
From what I understand, the asian one are not as red (more orange, like yours). I try to round them up and release them in the greenhouse, but I don't know if it helps.
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Rob's Rules:  http://littlefrogfarm.com
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit
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09-29-2006, 12:08 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queens, NY, USA
Age: 28
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Oh, its not dead. It grazes around the orchid all day. Found it grabbing on to the underleaf of the same phal this morning.
__________________
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, LOTR, Fellowship of the Ring
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09-29-2006, 01:10 PM
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Ambassador
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Zone: 9a
Location: Spring Hill, FL
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At one of my monthly meetings recently, we had the head horticulturist from the National Botanical Gardens in D.C. as our speaker. She said that they purposely release "beneficial" insects into the controlled environment, first on her list: ladybugs! They also use lacewings and some others. Very interesting stuff!!!
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Susanne B
"It is difficult to give away kindness.
It keeps coming back to you"
~~ Cort Flint
Leave your egos at the door...
Jungle Hobbies, anyone? http://www.junglehobbies.com/cb977
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09-29-2006, 02:17 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queens, NY, USA
Age: 28
Posts: 7,299
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Cool! So they are friends. Now, does this mean I've got ladybug food munching and living on my orchids?!
__________________
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, LOTR, Fellowship of the Ring
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09-29-2006, 06:28 PM
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OB Admin
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Zone: 3a
Location: Edmonton, Alberta. Canada
Age: 47
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I think ladybugs eat other insects only, not plants - except for the odd helping of nectar, honeydew or pollen.
Having them around in controlled numbers would be a good thing.
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Dave W
"It is easy to grow orchids - you just have to think like one!" - Unknown
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09-29-2006, 10:15 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Zone: 5a
Location: Fredericton, N.B. Canada
Posts: 351
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I think it is the lady bug larva that have large appetites.
You can look at some of the different types here.
http://www.ladybuglady.com/ladybugweb9.htm
Last edited by Ironwood : 09-29-2006 at 10:40 PM.
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09-29-2006, 10:31 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queens, NY, USA
Age: 28
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Thanks, great link! I found her after coming home from work today. Still on the Phal. I think maybe I have a new pet.
__________________
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, LOTR, Fellowship of the Ring
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09-30-2006, 08:06 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Zone: 9b
Location: Central Florida
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Tindo, at HD we sell ladybugs, aphids, preying mantis in multiples, net bags in which are cut open and left on the plant for the little buggers to crawl out of seclusion and devour pests. When we had a wrongful shipment of gardenia's, full of pest we opened a bag of ladybugs the results were phenonemal...a good pet to have.
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Cheryl
“Although the tongue weighs very little, few people are able to hold it.”
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