Backyard Bugs

chillidude · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:00 pm

Yeah they turned up pretty quick at our place after we rang them once when we thought we had European Borer. Turns out they said it wasn't, but they couldn't actually identify what it was, but took the cupboard away and brought it back a couple of days later.

Good service !

The Hopefulls · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:28 pm

Any recommendations on what we should use to get rid of white fly and spider mite.

all ideas greatfully accepted

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:15 pm

The Hopefulls wrote:

Any recommendations on what we should use to get rid of white fly and spider mite.

all ideas greatfully accepted

What about Neem oil?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil

Faye · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:58 pm

Sticky traps for white fly. (Beat a Bug) chilli and garlic spray and worm juice as a deterrent.

The Hopefulls · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:54 pm

not keen on the neem oil cause of the trout.

already use the stick traps, havent tried the chilli though. What will happen if it ends up in the fish water?

chillidude · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:23 am

The Hopefulls wrote:

already use the stick traps, havent tried the chilli though. What will happen if it ends up in the fish water?

Not sure - the capsaicin is an oil, a fairly stable oil, but it's unlikely that the fish get the heat effect. The nerves that respond to capsaicin have only been found in mammals to date. Doesn't affect birds at all and there are certainly a number of insects that attack chillies so it is unlikely that it affects them. I think it deters insects when sprayed on plants purely because it is an oil, like white oil.

Faye · **Posted:** Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:59 pm

Hey Granny Smith, I came across this female wingless orchid wasp in the foliage of a grass tree back in Dec/January in Denmark. The book that I identified it from says that it is a TYPHIDAE (same as your male hairy flower wasps) undidentiofied species.
The book is called Guide to the Wildlife of the Perth Region, an excellent source of pictures and names, though not a lot of information. What I did read said that the female (wingless) waits to be picked up by a male.

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Faye · **Posted:** Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:08 pm

One dark summers night when we returned home, shining in the moonlight was a largish, whiteish thing hanging off a blackboy spear, leaf whatever. I went for a closer look and could not make out what I was seeing, so as you do, I started taking photos. As it continued to unfurl I came to realise that it was a cricket emerging. I got a bit of video footage as well. These little experiences never cease to amaze me, so thought I would share.

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Granny Smith · **Posted:** Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:10 am

Fascinating, Faye. Imagine being THAT dependent on men!

Love the photos of the cricket, too.

BTW, one of the stories I have to write this month (for the May issue of Small Farms) is about beneficial insects. I'm hoping to talk with a man at Muchea.

earthbound · **Posted:** Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:49 pm

Faye wrote:

What I did read said that the female (wingless) waits to be picked up by a male.[/attachment]

Sounds like any Friday or Saturday night in Fremantle of Northbridge.

Nice pics though Faye...

chillidude · **Posted:** Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:13 pm

Looks more like a little dragon emerging, Faye - very cool.

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