Look what Middle Monkey found in the front yard this morning. Excuse the blurry picture. That sucker was fast.
We do not spray for bugs in our garden. We like to let nature take care of everything whenever possible. I am always on the lookout for beneficial insects. Lady bugs and their weird looking offspring do a great job on aphids. Assassin bugs look pretty scary and eat anything they can get their proboscis into.
Our favorite killer bugs are praying mantids. All praying mantis are praying mantids, but not all praying mantis are praying mantids. It's a species thing. Anyway, these creatures will eat anything even each other. A baby mantid's first meal may be his brother. I feel very sorry for the male mantids. If they don't make the jump to the females back just perfectly for mating, they are dinner. Even if they do, she is still going to eat his head during the act and then the rest of him after she gets the needed genetic material. Just thought you should know.
I have a compost update. The pile stayed over 140 degrees for four days. Today it started dropping and currently is at 135. It still a hot pile. When it drops below 130 it will be considered active. Once it cools off to the 80's it is ready to turn and start the whole process over again. We have compost success and I am very happy.
Do you know of a beneficial insect that will eat wasps? I'm sick of them killing my baby catepillars (sp?).
ReplyDeleteHi sister, nope sorry. Didn't I buy you one of those traps?
ReplyDeleteI bet your monkeys love all the interesting insects they find in your yard. Beneficial insects and birds really take care of the problem bugs in a garden if you give them a chance.
ReplyDeleteYou're like me! I don't spray any pesticides either. Interestingly, I've had less insect damage to my garden in the past 5 years that I've done this than before when I DID spray. Nature is great!
ReplyDeleteCindy at Rosehaven Cottage
This is great, good bugs and good heat for the compost pile.
ReplyDeleteThose good bugs are the best, aren't they? I never knew that the mantis did that though.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, I have never sprayed. In my first garden my dad sprinkled 7 and I almost died. Seriuosly, I've got asthma and cannot take the chemical pesticides. My insect damage is minimal as long as I have a variety of plants.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, we love finding the good bugs and hot compost just rocks.
ReplyDeleteHi cinj, sorry, I just had to share.
pg, again you comment slipped past me. yes the critters do a great job keeping themselves in check.
ReplyDeleteI saw a neat wasp-deterrent that uses no chemicals, it's called The Waspinator, and it's just a fake wasp nest to trick them into thinking they have competition and staying away. Oh, and congratulations on your "hot pile" ...heh...that's awesome! ;-)
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