Black Ladybugs

[chrisa]

I hate mealybugs, they are horrible little creatures that make me ask God, "why did you ever create a creature that gives me so much stress; what purpose to they really serve?"

At any rate, I have gone a quest to wipe them out from society and rid all orchid lovers of this nasty little creature from hel*. What I have found is the black ladybug (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri). I do not have a greenhouse, but am seriously considering buy about 50 and letting them lose in my house.

What is the forum's opinion of the black ladybug? Has anyone had any experience with them?

[pavel]

It is unlikely to do you much good, Chris. It is highly unlikely that your infestation is large enough to feed that many Cryptos even for a short time. As a result, the vast majority of them would wind up spreading all over your home instead of remaining on or by your plants. (In addition, these beetles are known for being wanderers.) The result would be a lot of dead beetles in short order. Not exactly a wise expenditure of funds, IMO.

Depending on what your winter temps are like, if your chids are currently indoors until warmer weather arrives spraying with 90% rubbing alcohol does seem to do a number on the mealies though repeated application would likely be necessary. There are also systemics which you can use.

Once temps are warm enough for the chids to stay outdoors, you could summer your orchids outside and let the predators in your area wage the battle for you.

[chrisa]

Thanks, Pavel. At this time, I do not have an infestation (I think); although, I did have one several months ago. Thank goodness my local orchid guy gave me his recipe for his systemic mealy-cocktail that worked...but I did lose four orchids due to inexperience.

Right now, I just have one quarantined orchid that I spotted a few mealys on the spike. I am using the mealy-cocktail to water, spray, in 10 day intervals and giving close inspections with alcohol in the nooks and crannys. So far, so good.

[phalspital]

Chris, I use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol and swab around the nooks and crannies 2-3 days running. It always works. Mealies love still, warm air, so you could turn up the fan a notch...