Pests are harmful insects which are detrimental to the growth of plants. To have a healthy and prosperous organic garden, one must adopt various ways to eliminate these pests. However, using pesticides can defeat the whole purpose of organic gardening. Pesticides are harmful chemicals which are likely to enter our system through the vegetables and fruits we cultivate. Besides, pesticides can kill even those helpful insects that help in getting rid of harmful pests. There are many insects which are natural predators of pests and can be used extensively for organic gardening pest control.
Green lacewing larvae are great enemies of some of the soft bodied pests called aphids. These larvae also feed on mites and eggs of the pest insects. These larvae thrive in humid conditions. Mealy bug, a pest found in greenhouses, spider mites, whiteflies, moths and tobacco budworm are other pests that fall prey to the lacewing larvae. These larvae should be deployed at least 4 times, with a gap of two weeks, to make use of their entire life cycle.
Ladybugs and ground beetles feed on many of the pests too. AN adult ladybug can eat up to a thousand aphids per day. Ladybugs are very active and hence they are cooled off in a fridge to make them less active and hence prevent them from disappearing out of the garden itself. They stick better in moist soil. Even as larvae, they can eat hundred of aphids a day.
Fly parasites are tiny flies which do not sting or bite and live entirely off pupa or larva of the pests. They are natural predators of the most common pests like house flies, stable flies, horn flies and face flies. Decaying organic matter where pests usually thrive is also the environment where fly parasites can be found in great number, thus preventing the very growth of the pests.
Beneficial nematodes can prey on as many as 250 different species of pests. Maggots, worms and fleas are common prey to these nematodes which usually hunt underground. These are also useful because of their resistance to pesticides.
Organic gardening pest control is hence very much possible through natural ways instead of resorting to use of chemicals that undo the benefits of organic gardening.
Green lacewing larvae are great enemies of some of the soft bodied pests called aphids. These larvae also feed on mites and eggs of the pest insects. These larvae thrive in humid conditions. Mealy bug, a pest found in greenhouses, spider mites, whiteflies, moths and tobacco budworm are other pests that fall prey to the lacewing larvae. These larvae should be deployed at least 4 times, with a gap of two weeks, to make use of their entire life cycle.
Ladybugs and ground beetles feed on many of the pests too. AN adult ladybug can eat up to a thousand aphids per day. Ladybugs are very active and hence they are cooled off in a fridge to make them less active and hence prevent them from disappearing out of the garden itself. They stick better in moist soil. Even as larvae, they can eat hundred of aphids a day.
Fly parasites are tiny flies which do not sting or bite and live entirely off pupa or larva of the pests. They are natural predators of the most common pests like house flies, stable flies, horn flies and face flies. Decaying organic matter where pests usually thrive is also the environment where fly parasites can be found in great number, thus preventing the very growth of the pests.
Beneficial nematodes can prey on as many as 250 different species of pests. Maggots, worms and fleas are common prey to these nematodes which usually hunt underground. These are also useful because of their resistance to pesticides.
Organic gardening pest control is hence very much possible through natural ways instead of resorting to use of chemicals that undo the benefits of organic gardening.
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