WORMS & LADYBUGS

[Bob Vento]

I have read that worms and ladybugs are an awesome defense to creatures that like to eat gardens.

I have ordered 1 lb of worms and 2000 ladybugs ...
ok, so now what do I do with them when they arrive at my house?

Can I just put some of the red wigglers on top of my stalite and they will make their own way down into my grow bed?
The remainder of worms are going in the compost bin.

I understand I should release the ladybugs in daily increments to insure a good dispersal ... is that true?

I also read that keeping the ladybugs in the fridge is a way of keeping them alive between dispersal?

Any and all advise and information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your knowledge and help.

Regards,
Bob

[Keith Rowan]

store your ladybugs in the fridge..

before releasing (in the early evening) give your plants a misting of water.. when you release some of the ladybugs, the first thing they will look for is usually a drink.. this, and releasing them in the evening will keep them in the area a little longer.. you can also make a sugar water spray and spray the ladybugs - this will make their wings stick for a week or two, and keep them around..

 

a dozen or two red wiggler worms in the growbed are plenty, they'll pretty much self regulate..dropping them on top of the media should not be a problem for them

[Bob Vento]

Thanks for the tips Keith, I really appreciate that.

Keith Rowan said:

store your ladybugs in the fridge..

before releasing (in the early evening) give your plants a misting of water.. when you release some of the ladybugs, the first thing they will look for is usually a drink.. this, and releasing them in the evening will keep them in the area a little longer.. you can also make a sugar water spray and spray the ladybugs - this will make their wings stick for a week or two, and keep them around..

 

a dozen or two red wiggler worms in the growbed are plenty, they'll pretty much self regulate..dropping them on top of the media should not be a problem for them

[Converse]

 Greetings Bob,

  I can address the redworms.  I am not so informed about the ladybugs.  I have some friends who have regular infestations of ladybugs in their house...SO can just get them when I would want them...never even thought about the "best way" to release them...I hope to learn a bit about this on your discussion from whoever can address that.  Because we use worm castings and worm casting tea, we have never had a problem yet that 'needed' ladybugs.

    Yes, you can just release some of your redworms into your media.  They will live there happily.  The fish poo and any dead plant matter/dead roots will provide the foodstock for the redworms.  You can sprinkle the redworms over the top of the media, and they will burrow as quickly as possible. Their skin is very light sensitive.  You can also make shallow holes in the media and deposit them in the holes, and lightly cover them up.  You may not see them again for quite some time.  Do not go digging around in the media to find them.  Redworms do not like distrubances, and will need a while to settle into their new home, getting used to the new pH, temperatures and feedstock available.

   As soon as the redworms arrive you can add them to your media beds.  Hopefully you have your redworm composting bin ready (with bedding all prepared) and waiting for the rest of the redworms. You can add the rest of the redworms to their new composting bin-home right away too. Once you add your redworms, you can also add food matter.  Redworms will need abou1-3 weks (usually about 1 1/2 weeks) to get used to their new home.  During this time feed them only lightly.  Wait a week and check to see if they are consuming the food mater you gave them.  If they are actively in the food matter, or if it is gone, they are ready to be fed on a regular basis.  One pound of redworms can consume 1/2 pound of food matter a day...but remember you will have put some of the redworms in your media beds.  Be careful not to overload your composting bin with food matter, getting too ahead of your redworms.   If you are just adding your redworms to a composting bin you already have going, but just want the redworms to get it working, just dump them in there, or make a hole and plop them in and cover them up. They can work well in a compost bin that seems to be doing nothing...but they will get cooked if it is a thermophylic composting bin that is hot. 

   Best of all to you with your ladybugs and redworms!

- Converse

edited to add:  Hey Keith, thanks for the ladybug info...never knew that.  Thanks!  Guess I just plain missed your answer the first time I read this discussion.. I always appreciate all that I learn here on this forum!

[Judson Wallace]

The lady bugs for some reason invade our home every year. Right in the middle of winter they find their way into our lower story bathroom. NO idea why. I save them every year they come in... and then move them outside when its warm. 

FF to spring... I was out in the garden .. early early early spring and noticed some aphids on the plant. It was evening and I didn't feel like dealing with it. THe next day I came out to deal with it and noticed a few lady bugs swarming around. So I left it. A day later there were more lady bugs. 

My yard is now covered in lady bugs and they have killed almost every aphid. Not bad.

[Keith Rowan]

the ladybugs that invade your home are hibernating for the winter.. it's a good thing!

that's why you can store them in the fridge for several weeks..