Pest controlling bugs earn mixed reviews
Lawrence officials released 18,000 ladybugs in Lawrence to help control a growing aphid population, but the bugs are finding limited success.
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Two weeks after Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department employees released 18,000 ladybugs around town, the results are getting mixed reviews.
City officials released the bugs as a pest control measure in hopes of controlling a growing aphid population at the Union Pacific Depot, Buford Watson Jr. Park and flower beds along Massachusetts street.
But Crystal Miles, horticulture manager, said that it may still be too soon to tell how effective the ladybugs will be.
“In some areas we have seen improvements,” Miles said. “We are trying to give it another month to see if they will lay eggs and give off a second generation.”
Miles said that the goal of the project was not to eliminate the pests all together, but to bring the environment back to a “natural level.”
“We are trying to get a sustainable level of aphids,” Miles said.
Miles said one area that had seen improvement was the Union Pacific Depot. However, one area that has not seen improvements is Buford Watson, Jr. Park, Seventh and Kentucky streets. However, Miles still had hope that the pesticide-free method would work.
“The ladybugs are still there,” Miles said, “We have seen them around.”
City commissioners urged the department to find pesticide-free methods of controlling the pest population in hopes of promoting pesticide-free parks. Now some city residents seem to be following suit.
Greg McDonald, manager of Sunrise Garden Center, 1501 Learnard Ave., sold the first batch of ladybugs to the city as a test before city employees released the 18,000 bugs.
“A lot of people are going for organic methods of pest removal,” McDonald said. “They are looking to get away from harsh chemicals.”
The Sunrise Garden Center also sells preying mantises as another option for pesticide-free pest control. However, McDonald said bugs do not work as well as chemical pesticides in most cases.
“You can’t expect bugs to stay there,” McDonald said. “When a second generation of pests hatch, the bugs will be gone. If here is no food for the bugs to eat, they leave. That’s the real downside.”
Although pesticides may work better, the popularity of pesticide-free methods of controlling garden pests is growing.
McDonald said he sold more than 40 containers containing 1,500 ladybugs each within a month. He also said he sold 20 preying mantis containers, with two cases of eggs per container, in two months.
Trey Granger, columnist for LiveScience.com, suggested other ways to green a garden without harming the environment.
Granger said to conserve water when watering outside plants. Water evaporates during the hottest parts of the day. Watering in the morning can save up to 50 gallons of water a week.
Granger also suggested “grass-cycling,” which uses grass clippings to provide nutrients as they decompose. Other materials that are rich in nutrients are organic waste from the kitchen. Using fruit and vegetable peels and egg shells, mixed with yard waste, makes for good compost material.
— Edited by Rustin Dodd
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"If here is no food..."
???
I'm sure he said "there."
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