Just as good people on this planet help balance the effect of bad ones, there are good bugs and bad bugs. And while the human species is coming on strong with an expected three billion people by 2010, insects make up the largest class in the animal kingdom. There are some 750,000 species of insects creeping or winging about the planet with a mere 82,000 or so species classified as "true bugs."
The ladybug is a true bug. More importantly, it's a good bug, and these days, you can keep your own refrigerated batch of ladybugs to take on bad bugs like aphids, scale or other soft bodied insects in your garden.
"The ladybugs go dormant in the refrigerator, then when you release them, say a handful at a time, they eat the bad bugs and you have on-going, non-toxic control of pests," said Kathy Hancock, owner of Blooming Creations at Sears. "The refrigerated lady bugs live in their own clear, plastic container with holes on the top for up to four weeks."
Good bugs have been around longer than humankind, and they are an indispensable member of the unique web of life. Without insects, life on Earth would be flowerless. Silkless. Honeyless. Of course, the gardener's goal is to have less of the bugs that damage plants.
Just in time for Christmas, Blooming Creations now carries an assortment of good bugs that feed on bad bugs.
Hancock says the Florida Extension Agent in Gainesville reviewed the list of insects she offers and confirmed that nothing harmful will be introduced into our fragile, sub-tropical environment.
"There's even a snail that eats snails, but I won't offer it because of the Stock Island Tree Snail," said Hancock. "I don't want to set predators loose on good bugs."
Nematodes that eat nematodes that eat plants.
Spider mites that eat spider mites that eat plants.
All of the insects Hancock carries are beneficial to gardens because they eat insects that eat your plants. She even carries a flea control "package."
"Actually, I carry a card rack of the insects I can sell, and you buy the insect card," said Hancock. "These are living insects and they have to be purchased in bulk, which I do. After you buy the insect card you want, it takes seven to ten days for delivery, then bingo, organic gardening."
Hancock already has ladybugs on hand. Enough ladybugs to eat bad bugs in a 2,000 square foot garden costs $7.99.
The "Veggie Pest Defense Kit" costs more— three species of beneficial insects in this little package— and a 2,800 square foot "Lawn Pest Control" for up to six months tops out at $39.99.
For the first time ever in a place that never freezes, you can give your honey a White Christmas. White Fly, that is: It gobbles up six different species of bad, bad white flies.