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Should I spray when lady bugs around?

4 years ago

I got really bad issues with thrips last year. I intended to keep them off my garden this year with Conserve SC and neem oil. But now I have zillion of lady bugs in my garden. They are partying and mating all over places. Before long I might have the whole army of lady bugs. Should I spray or just let lady bugs do the job? Can lady bugs keep up with the thrips on roses? Or would they stay if I don’t spray at all? Thank you.

Featured Answer

oldrosarian

4 years ago

One lady bug can eat hundreds of aphids a day. Try and wait until they have finished dining on the aphids if possible.

Comments (9)

Amanda Zone10Socal
4 years ago
do you know if they really eat thrips? I keep seeing it written that they do but I also saw people writing that the thrips don't have natural predators here, or at least chili thrips don't?
Jennifer (7b) thanked Amanda Zone10Socal
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oldrosarian
4 years ago
It should say on the spray can if it does kill lady bugs. If not then ask Google if the name of the spray also kill lady bugs.Lady buds are known for eating many of the smaller undesirable insects so they do a good job of cleaning up the garden.
Jennifer (7b) thanked oldrosarian
Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
4 years ago
Jennifer, I had the same thing here. About 2 weeks ago, I had Thrips and I just did 1st round of conserve also. When it was time to do second spray, I notice lady bugs. So that night I did not spray.
I don't have alphids and Thrips don't have predators except lizards and smaller nail size frogs like what Jasmin has in her garden. But that is my assumption :)
I find a lady bug inside a rose bloom asleep ( I think ). I don't know why they are here but they are so all my spraying stop. I deadhead that bloom when I noticed a ladybug so I put it in the ground. Looks asleep They are on stems, branches on leaves, everywhere.

I did call the company last year to inquire and it will killed them. As long as it is insects , Conserve will get them. That's what they said...
Amanda askedd great questions. Do they eat Thrips ??

jin
Jennifer (7b) thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
Jennifer (7b)
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Thanh you everyone for helping. I will wait and see how ladybugs can do. Thank you!!
dianela7analabama
4 years ago
Hello I am having the same issue. Already found thrips inside some of my first blooms, but I have a lot of lady bugs. I ended up selectively spraying the roses that are more affected (white and pale pinks mainly). I am hoping this will minimize conserve killing all my ladybugs.
Jennifer (7b) thanked dianela7analabama
stillanntn6b
4 years ago
There are predators of thrips; they are different species of thrips. Unfortuanately no one is working on knowing them or even cursory studies. But we have them, because they come after the first waves of herbivore thrips.

I don't think there's a Society for the Preservation of Aphids, but if there were, it would make for some interesting cyber fusses. I've enjoyed watching the lady bug larvae (sort of look like really small crocodiles in body form) and wasp/hornets devouring aphids. Even up close the wasps/hornets that eat aphids seem to ignore me for their aphid feasts.
Jennifer (7b) thanked stillanntn6b
Amanda Zone10Socal
4 years ago
the ladybugs have eaten most of the aphid explosion now but haven’t seen them eat a thrip yet, I would think that would be hard to see though. I didn’t spray thrips until late last summer and I didn’t see anything eating them. I had put out blue sticky traps and I caught a lot of thrips but also some ladybugs and wasps so I’m thinking it probably came out in the thrips favor. I bought some extra ladybugs this spring and it said on the container they eat thrips so maybe?
Jennifer (7b) thanked Amanda Zone10Socal
Jennifer (7b)
Original Author
4 years ago

Oh yes, I love looking at ladybugs and ladybug larvae devouring aphids. I have lots of daisy and they are loaded with aphids. I also see tiny spider on daisy. Do they eat aphid? Also tiny snails on daisy. These days I am "living" in my garden :))

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