Predator bugs

[ammun]

Hi, I am just about to invest in some green lacewing in an attempt to annihilate the spider mite and white fly that are killing my plants. Does anyone out there have any idea if they are effective?? I have tried neem oil and kelthane as well as confidor but they just keep coming back and are driving me ABSOLUTELY NUTS!!! We are growing outside and trying my best not to use chemicals but, these little buggers just keep on coming. Any thoughts and or suggestions would be most appreciated. I don't want to waste our money on expensive little bugs (that are apparently native already) but, i feel like i have no other choice. Experience here anyone PLEASE

[phreakah]

Don't know about lacewing, and haven't had any personal experience in this...

 

But predator mites and/or ladybugs may be helpful to look into also.

 

The problem with natural predators is they tend to wander outdoors...

[The Claw]

Hi & wecome ammun, are you getting them from http://www.bugsforbugs.com.au/index.php with it being outside they might just move on.

[ammun]

Thanks very much guys, I was concerned about that, they are in a semi enclosed space (orchid house) which does get fairly humid. we were worried about them running off and was thinking of putting one of those lace curtain thingies over the plants to keep them in. Im not too keen on that coz they already have partial shade. I was hoping with the green lacewing that they would eat both bugs - to buy the predator mites as well was getting a little pricey but might be the best solution. Better than Kelthane (yuk). Was looking at buying from bug central, reasonably priced and very good advice (although I have told them I am growing fruit trees). Fingers crossed.

[ammun]

OK - so I got the predator mites and green lacewing which turned out to be a total failure! I did notice an improvement with the whitefly though. The lacewings are sent as babies (cant think of the official term) but basically they dont really wander until they become adults and have laid their eggs where they landed. I am wishing I had introduced them from the time I started rather than waiting until I had a problem. They would have been more effective. Predator mites did absolutely sweet FA, I cant see any adult lacewing (although gave some to a friend and hers matured). The place I got them from sent another lot 2 weeks later but unfortunately, I have not seen them mature, only seen my plants be devoured by spidermite. I have attacked them with oil and then kelthane and they are slowly on the mend but we lost 1 big mumma stupidass bugs I think at the beginning they helped although the infestation was just too large to cope. Next time, I will gas the orchid house 2 weeks prior to planting, then I will introduce the bugs once the seeds have sprouted and maybe then they will f off?? I am very close to giving up growing organic coz man our bugs are harsh!!! Dunno if maybe the big ass centipedes we have could have eaten them but I reckon something has coz they are gone and all I managed to breed was spidermite!!!

[brick]

http://www.getridofthings.com/garden/pests/get-rid-of-spider-mites.htm

Have read of this.

Google is great for spider mite infestations. Plethora of info there.