One principle of permaculture design is to cultivate a balanced ecosystem - including as an approach to pest control. As permaculture founder Bill Mollison said, "You haven't got an excess of slugs, you've got a duck deficiency."
Now, my windowsill arugula is a far cry from a permaculture design, but I did use natural predators to control the aphid infestation. I didn't have an excess of aphids, I had a ladybug deficiency!
For the last few months I've continually relocated 'ladybugs' (actually, West Asian Beetles) from our south-facing windows onto my arugula, and happily watched them get fat on the little green buggers. Lately, though, a couple of the ladybugs mated and left these eggs on an arugula leaf!
For the last few months I've continually relocated 'ladybugs' (actually, West Asian Beetles) from our south-facing windows onto my arugula, and happily watched them get fat on the little green buggers. Lately, though, a couple of the ladybugs mated and left these eggs on an arugula leaf!
A few days later... they hatched!
EEEeeek! I'll be the first to admit, little crawly things make my scalp itch... they creep me out. But these beetle larvae have their plus-side. The baby ladybugs look like fierce little dragons and are ravenous! I watched one of the bigger ladybug larvae attack and eat an aphid that was a full half of its size. Way to go, little guys!
Though my arugula has gone to seed and isn't long for this world, the recent surge in ladybug population is a huge triumph against the aphids.
Yes, pest control is possible.
How do you control pests? Predators? Companion planting? Sprays?
Yes, pest control is possible.
How do you control pests? Predators? Companion planting? Sprays?