Watch YouTube video about using ladybugs for the control of aphids: "
Description: Ladybird beetles are also called as ladybugs and scientifically known as Hypodamia convergens. Both larvae and adults of ladybugs are active predators of many soft bodied insects including aphids, mealy bugs, mites and scale insects. Adult ladybugs are hemispherical shaped and bright orange to red in color with 6 black spots on each wing (Fig. 1) whereas larvae have appearance like an alligator with yellow stripes and reddish dark brown color (Fig. 2). Since adults of ladybugs are very active predators, they can move very fast after their release and find their prey in the garden. Each adult of ladybug is capable of eating over 5000 aphids whereas each larva in its life-span can eat over 400 aphids (Fig. 3). Use of ladybugs as biological control agents in the organic gardens is a good choice because released ladybug adults can continuously reproduce and maintain their populations as long as they find their food in the garden. For example, once ladybugs are released in the garden, they immediately start feeding on their prey. While feeding they mate and lay up to 1,500 tiny yellow eggs on foliage. Eggs hatch within a week into blackish brown alligator like larvae, which are very mobile. After hatching, these larvae immediately start feeding on the available insect hosts in the garden. While feeding, larvae molts 3 times before pupation. The pupae are orange to black in color and attached to any substrate in the garden. Young adults emerge from pupae within 1-2 weeks and life cycle continues. Ladybugs generally complete several generations in a year and they hibernate as adults during winter. [caption id="attachment_1288" align="aligncenter" width="201" caption="Fig. 1. An adult ladybug"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1299" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fig.2. A ladybug larva was feeding on okra aphids"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1300" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fig. 3. Red aphids feeding on underside of a tomato leaf"][/caption]
Yes, as they are not harmful to humans, children and pets.
Research Papers: Dreistadt, S.H. and Flint, M.L 1996. Melon aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) control by inundative convergent lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) release on Chrysanthemum. Environmental Entomology 25:688-697. Eigenbrode, S.D., White, C., Rohde, M. and Simon, C.J. 1998. Behavior and effectiveness of adult Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as a predator of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera: Aphididae) on a Wax Mutant of Pisum sativum. Environmental Entomology 27: 902-909.
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Characteristics |
Steinernematid Nematodes |
Heterorhabditid Nematodes |
A single free-living and non-feeding infective/ dauer juvenile stage | Present | Present |
Infective juveniles carry several cells of symbiotic bacterial in their guts | Yes | Yes |
Infective juveniles enter into insect host’s body cavity through natural openings such as mouth, spiracles and anus | Yes | Yes |
Once in the body cavity, symbiotic bacteria released by infective juveniles into insect blood through anus | Yes | Yes |
In insect blood, symbiotic bacteria quickly multiply, cause a disease and kill insect host within 48 hours of nematode infection (Griffin et al., 2005) | Yes | Yes |
Characteristics |
Steinernematid Nematodes |
Heterorhabditid Nematodes |
Taxonomic relationship (Stock and Hunt, 2005) | No close relationship | No close relationship |
Type of reproduction (Griffin et al., 2005) | Amphimictic reproduction: All generations are produced by a cross fertilization between males and females | Both hermaphrodictic and amphimictic reproductions: In hermphrodictic reproduction, first generation individuals are produce by self-fertilization i.e. without males but the second generation individuals are produced by following amphimictic type of reproduction. |
Number of infective juveniles need to enter into insect host’s body | At least two infective juveniles need to develop into a separate male and female individual for cross-fertilization and colonization | Only one infective juveniles need to develop as a hermaphrodite. |
Type of symbiotic bacteria carried by infective juveniles | Xenorhabdus spp. | Photorhabdus spp. |
Steinernema Species |
Associated Xenorhabdus species |
Neosteinernema longicurvicauda | Undescribed |
Steinernema abbasi | Undescribed |
S. aciari | Undescribed |
S. affine | Xenorhabdus bovienii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. akhursti | Undescribed |
S. anatoliense | Undescribed |
S. apuliae | Undescribed |
S. arenarium | X. kozodoii Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
S. ashiuense | Undescribed |
S. asiaticum | Undescribed |
S. australe | X. magdalenensis Tailliez, Pages, Edgington, Tymo, and Buddie, 2012 |
S. backanense | Undescribed |
S. beddingi | Undescribed |
S. bicornutum | X. budapestensis Lengyel, Lang, Fodor, Szállás, Schumann, Stackebrandt, 2005 |
S. boemarei | Undescribed |
S. brazilense | Undescribed |
S. carpocapsae | X. nematophila (Poinar and Thomas 1965) Thomas and Poinar 1979 |
S. caudatum | Undescribed |
S. ceratophorum | Undescribed |
S. cholashanense | Undescribed |
S. colombiense | Undescribed |
S. costaricense | Undescribed |
S. cubanum | X. poinarii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. cumgarense | Undescribed |
S. diaprepesi | Undescribed |
S. eapokense | Undescribed |
S. ethiopiense | Undescribed |
S. feltiae | X. bovienii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. glaseri | X. poinarii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. guangdongense | Undescribed |
S. hebeiense | Undescribed |
S. hermaphroditum | X. griffiniae Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
S. ichnusae | Undescribed |
S. intermedium | X. bovienii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. jollieti | Undescribed |
S. karii | Undescribed |
S. khoisanae | Undescribed |
S. kraussei | X. bovienii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. kushidai | X. japonica Nishimura et al. 1995 |
S. leizhouense | Undescribed |
S. litorale | Undescribed |
S. loci | Undescribed |
S. longicaudum | Undescribed |
S. monticolum | Undescribed |
S. neocurtillis | Undescribed |
S. oregonense | Undescribed |
S. pakistanense | Undescribed |
S. phyllophagae | Undescribed |
S. puertoricense | X. romanii Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
S. puntauvense | Undescribed |
S. rarum | X. szentirmaii Lengyel, Lang, Fodor, Szállás, Schumann, Stackebrandt, 2005 |
S. riobrave | X. cabanillasii Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
S. ritteri | Xenorhabdus sp |
S. robustispiculum | Undescribed |
S. sangi | Undescribed |
S. sasonense | Undescribed |
S. scapterisci | X. innexi Lengyel, Lang, Fodor, Szállás, Schumann, Stackebrandt, 2005 |
S. scarabaei | X. koppenhoeferi Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
S. serratum | X. ehlersii Lengyel, Lang, Fodor, Szállás, Schumann, Stackebrandt, 2005 |
S. siamkayai | X. stockiae Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
S. sichuanense | X. bovienii (Akhurst 1983) Akhurst and Boemare 1993 |
S. silvaticum | Undescribed |
S. tami | Xenorhabdus sp |
S. texanum | Undescribed |
S. thanhi | Undescribed |
S. thermophilum | X. indica Somvanshi, Lang, Ganguly, Swiderski, Saxena, & Stackebrandt 2006 |
S. websteri | Undescribed |
S. weiseri | Undescribed |
S. xinbinense | Undescribed |
S. xueshanense | Undescribed |
S. yirgalemense | Undescribed |
Steinernema sp | X. doucetiae Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
Steinernema sp | X. hominickii Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
Steinernema sp | X. mauleonii Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
Steinernema sp | X. miraniensis Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 |
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Species of insect pests |
Entomopathogenic nematode species |
Publications(See below) |
Apopka weevil, Citrus root weevil or Sugarcane borer Diaprepes abbreviatus | Heterorhabditis georgiana, H. indica, H. zealandica, Steinernema carpocapsae, S. diaprepesi, S. riobrave | 1-13 |
Armyworms, Helicoverpa (Heliothis) armigera, Spodoptera exigua, S. frugiperda | H. amazonensis, H. indica S. arenarium, S. carpocapsae, S. glaseri | 14-18 |
Billbugs, Sphenophorus purvulus, S. levis | H. bacteriophora, S. brazilense, S. carpocapsae | 19-20 |
Black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus salcatus | H. bacteriophora, H. downesi, H. megidi.S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. kraussei | 21-26 |
Bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae | 27-29 |
Carpenter worms, Cossus cossus | S. weiseri | 30 |
Carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis | H. bacteriophora, H. megidi, S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae, S. riobrave, feltiae | 31-32 |
Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis | S. carpocapsae | 33-34 |
Chestnut weevil, Curculio elephas | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. siamkayai, S. weiseri | 35-37 |
Chinch bugs, Blissus sp. | Unknown species | 38 |
Citrus root weevil, Pachnaeus litus | S. carpocapsae | 39-41 |
Clover root weevil, Sitona hispidulus | H. bacteriophora | 42-43 |
Codling moth, Cydia pomonella | H. bacteriophora, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. kraussei | 44-56 |
Crane flies, Tipula paludosa | H. marelatus, H. megidis, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae | 57-58 |
Cucurbit beetle, Diabrotica speciosa | H. amazonensis, S. glaseri | 59 |
Cutworms, Agrotis ipsilon, A. segetum | H. bacteriophora, H. georgiana, H. indica H. Mexicana, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. riobrave | 60-65 |
Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella | Heterorhabditis sp., Rhabditis blumi, S. carpocapsae | 66-70 |
Egyptian cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis | H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae, S. kraussei, S. riobrave | 71-73 |
Fall webworms, Hyphantria cunea | H. bacteriophora, S. feltiae | 74 |
Filbertworm, Cydia latiferreana | S. carpocapsae, S. kraussei | 75-76 |
Flea beetles, Phyllotreta striolata, P. cruciferae | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. megidi, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. pakistanense | 77-79 |
Fungus gnats, Bradysis spp. | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. zealandica, S. anomali, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. riobrave | 80-84 |
House flies, Musca domestica | H. bacteriophora, H. megidi, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. scapterisci | 85-89 |
Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, P. unipuncta | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. marelata, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. anomaly, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. kushidai, S. minuta, S. scapterisci, S. scarabae, S. riobrave | 90-99 |
Leaf minors, Liriomyza bryoniae, L. trifolii, L. huidobrensis | S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae | 100-107 |
Leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina | H. bacteriophora, H. heliothidis, S. carpocapsae | 108 |
Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata | H. bacteriophora, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. khoisanae, S. siamkayai, S. weiseri | 109-116 |
Mole crickets, Scapteriscus vicinus | S. carpocapsae, S. riobravis, S. scapterisci | 117-131 |
Navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella | S. carpocapsae | 132 |
Peach borer, Synanthedon exitiosa | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, S. riobrave | 133-134 |
Pecan weevil, Curculio caryae, C. hicoriae | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. megidis, H. Mexicana, S. carpocapsae, S. riobrave | 135-143 |
Pine weevil, Hylobius abietis | H. downesi, H. megidis, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae | 144-148 |
Plum weevil, Conotrachelus nenuphar | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. riobrave | 149-154 |
Shore flies, Scatella stagnalis, S. tenuicosta | H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, S. anomaly, S. arenarium, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae | 155-158 |
Sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis | S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae | 159 |
Spruce webworm, Cephalcia abietis | S. feltiae | 160 |
Stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans | H. heliothidis, S. glaseri | 161 |
Stored grain pests: Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella), Sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis), Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), Red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), Warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile) | H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae | 162-168 |
Strawberry root borer, Nemocestes incomptus | S. carpocapsae | 169 |
Strawberry root weevil, Otiorhynchus ovatus, O. dubius strom, Ptiorhynchus ovatus | H. bacteriophora, H. marelatus, S. carpocapsae | 170-173 |
Strawberry crown moth, Synanthedon bibionipennis | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae | 174 |
Tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus | H. amazonensis, S. carpocapsae, S. glaseri | 175-179 |
Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips palmi | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, S. arenarium, S. bicornutum, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, Thripinema nicklewoodi | 180-186 |
Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae | 187-189 |
White flies, Bemisia tabaci, Trialeurodes vaporariorum | H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, S. feltiae | 190-194 |
White grub (Summer Chafer), Amphimallon solstitiale | H. bacteriophora | 195 |
White grub (Oriental beetle), Anomala orientalis, Exomala orientalis, Blitopertha orientalis | H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. glaseri, S. longicaudum, S. scarabae | 196-216 |
White grub, Costelytra zealandica | H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri | 217 |
White grub (June Bettle), Cotinus nitida | H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. scarabae | 218-220 |
White grub, Cyclocephala borealis, C. hirta, C. lurida, C. pasadenae | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. marelata, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. kushidai, S. riobrave, S. scarabae | 221-227 |
White grub, Hoplia philanthus | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. megidis, S. arenarium, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. scarabaei | 228-232 |
White grub, Melolontha melolontha | H. bacteriophora, H. marelata, H. megidis, S. arenaria, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. riobrave | 233-235 |
White grub, Ataenius spretulus | H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae | 236-237 |
White grub (Asiatic garden beetle), Maladera castanea | H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae | 238-242 |
White grubs, Phyllophaga anxia, P. bicolor, P. congrua, P. crinita, P. georgiana, P. hirticula, P. menetriesi | H. bacteriophora, H. heliothidis, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. riobrave, S. scarabae | 243-250 |
White grub, Rhizotrogus majalis | H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. scarabae | 251-255 |
Fuller rose beetle, Asynonychus godmani | S. carpocapsae | 256 |
Chive gnat, Bradysia odoriphaga | H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. megidis, S. ceratophorum, S. feltiae, S. hebeiense, S. litorale | 257-258 |
Nematode species |
Area in sq ft (sq meter) |
|||||||
1 (0.093) |
10.76 (1) |
108 (10) |
1076 (100) |
2500 (233) |
5000 (465) |
10000 (930) |
43560 (4047) (an acre) |
|
Heterorhabdtis bacteriophora |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Heterorhabdtis indica |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Steinernema carpocapsae |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Steinernema feltiae |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Nematode species |
Area in sq ft (sq meter) |
|||||||
1 (0.093) |
10.76 (1) |
108 (10) |
1076 (100) |
2500 (233) |
5000 (465) |
10000 (930) |
43560 (4047) (an acre) |
|
Heterorhabdtis bacteriophora |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Heterorhabdtis indica |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Steinernema carpocapsae |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
Steinernema feltiae |
22.9 thousand |
229.6 thousand |
2.3 million |
22.6 million | 57.4 million | 114.8 million | 229.6 million | 1.0 billion |
What are the sources of plant nutrients in the organic gardening?
Soil is the basic source of plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium but this source can be easily depleted because of continuous cropping in the garden.