anybody brave enought to let lacewings loose in your house to eat mealybugs?

[rhawes]

I have a few orchids and some bonsai showing the mealybugs just bought a 1000 lacewing larvae and I intend to let them loose indoors desperate to get this under control anybody with experience?

 

[Forsoothe!]

Chemicals bad. Bugs good. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Phineas was right.

 

[Potawatomi13]

This time of year.....poor lacewings)-:!

 

[Mikecheck123]

This sounds like one of the craziest things I've read today.... and I've been on Twitter. A lot.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

The lacewings are going to hug your lightbulbs and windows if they ever reach adulthood.

 

[sorce]

Sometimes desperate acts lead to further desperation.

Sorce

 

[Forsoothe!]

Might need some bats to eat the surplus bug eating bugs...

Evidently the poster lives alone.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Might need some bats to eat the surplus bug eating bugs...

Evidently the poster lives alone.

And some cats to eat the surplus bats

 

[rhawes]

LOL thanks!!

 

[leatherback]

Don't eat bats. I have heard some strange stories about people eating bats.

 

[AJL]

''a few orchids and some bonsai showing the mealybugs''How many plants and how many mealy bugs? 1000 lacewing larvae sounds like a bit of overkill-
It might have been easier and quicker to squash them with your fingers or just wash them off with soapy water LOL

 

[Forsoothe!]

Mealybugs like crevices and those are hard to get your fingers into. Seventy percent Isopropyl (Rubbing) Alcohol is sold for antiseptic use. At this concentration, it may safely be sprayed on plants to kill aphids and other soft bodied critters. Screw a spray nozzle on the bottle and you're good to go. Make sure you look at the label because it is sold as 91%, too, and perhaps other strengths. Read this attachment about other kinds of alcohols and hort uses.

 

[AJL]

Mealybugs like crevices and those are hard to get your fingers into. Seventy percent Isopropyl (Rubbing) Alcohol is sold for antiseptic use. At this concentration, it may safely be sprayed on plants to kill aphids and other soft bodied critters. Screw a spray nozzle on the bottle and you're good to go. Make sure you look at the label because it is sold as 91%, too, and perhaps other strengths. Read this attachment about other kinds of alcohols and hort uses.

Just dont smoke while spraying it !!!! LOL

 

[Mycin]

This whole plan reminds me of this joke:

 

[HorseloverFat]

Y’know... Plants treated with Systemic don’t show these problems!

Just HAD to be “that guy” here..

(Not entirely my opinion, just advocating for the Devil)

 

[Mycin]

I'm battling mealybugs with nothing more than alcohol and neem/soap and it's holding them at bay. Alcohol in a spray bottle for spot treatments and neem/soap about every five days, as a spray and root drench.

There are easier methods for sure (eg: real pesticides), but I have two hungry Chihuahuas i have to worry about. Also, I'm protecting a few tropical trees and about 20 spekbooms. I would be less cavalier if my orchids were infested, I would be worried about damaging them w the alcohol and/or soap

 

[Forsoothe!]

"... every five days.." Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

 

[PA_Penjing]

some chick on youtube lets predatory insects loose in her house a lot. She lives in california though so they probably just open the windows and let some escape if it gets out of hand. Might be a bit much to do in December/January in Lancaster

 

[LanceMac10]

Don't eat bats. I have heard some strange stories about people eating bats.

As long as it's live, I believe your safe....I mean, this guy seems fine?

 

[AZbonsai]

I released 500 ladybugs in our plant lab at school. Janitor would not talk to me for a year!