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Home , Beneficial insect, Erica

NATURE'S OWN CONTROL: ENEFICIAL Here's the inside story on ltoa the rigltt "bugs" can do battle airh the bad guys in your garden BY JACK COOK

o call the Trich- During the course of her ogramma brief life-nine to I I "tiny" is like call- days-the Trichogramma ing Mt. Everest will parasitize some 50 eggs "above average." Half a in this manner. And since dozen Trichogrammas many of those 50 offspring could perch comfortably will themselves become fe- on the head of a pin. The males, this beneficial army wasp's wingspread is about can muster quite a few one-fiftieth of an inch. troops over a summer. Despite its size, the The Trichogramma is a Trichogramma looks fierce prime example of what we when you magnify the little call a beneficial . monster. Its eyes glow a (Those that dan't benefit us dangerous red, and the yel- we call pests.) [t's worth low markings on its shiny noting that of all the black body give it the sleek known of insects, look of a jet fighter. Luck- only about I percent are il¡ this wasp is so tiny that it what we would consider poses no threat to humans. pests. It's also worth noting In fact, it even lacks the that for every pest insect, "true stinger" that make its there are several beneficials larger cousins such an out- that will prey upon it. door worry. Controlling pests with It does, however, pose a beneficials is an ancient great threat to many mem- practice. The Chinese put bers of the insect world- bugs to work for them cen- especially one distinct type turies ago. Even in this whose members are among The Chìncse þrøyång mantìs, ìntroduced ín th¿ Uníted States country the practice dates the lea,st welcome in our øbout 80 yeørs øgo, eats anything åt cøn catch. back more than 100 gardens. ¡.uropean corn years-to 1883-when an- borers, caterpillars, cut- Tricho gramma's victims. other tiny wasp, Aþønteles glomcra- worms, cabbage loopers, codling- Upon finding such an egg, the /ru, was released in great numbers , tomato hornworms and wax adult female wasp deposits one of in California to control the im- Iz l moths are but a handful of the 200 her own eggs. This little gift soon ported cabbageworm. Six years ts I¡ species of destructive moths and hatches into a wasp larva that. con- after that, the first really spectacu- ì butterflies whose eggs are the sumes the pest egg surrounding it, lar success occurred. The hero was 36 oRGANICGARDENING an insecr that looks a bit like a lady- bollworm, Heliothis zta. Dietnck, bug: 70, the vedalia . president of California's Rincon- By mid-l880s, t!9 a sucking in- Vitova Insectaries Inc., the oldest sect called the cottony cusñion and largest insectary in the United lVn¿TouI&r¡? scale-it produces a cotton-like States, used Trichoþammas and a complex of other beneficials to beat the bollworm. "We took cotton out of spray (programs) in 1961, ,62, and '63," he recalls. "We virtually gation revealed that the scale had proved.that you didn't have to spray come to California from Australia, cotton." where it existed in such small num- The victory was shortlived, un- oticed. Natural fortunately-îoday comon may be Good in check. doused wirh more' ihan br¡gs or bad b lgs? Department of any other crop. The cause is the The critter on the left is a Mexican Bean þinh bollw orm, Pe ctinoþhora poss^,¡ - BTtlSVog garden is his own gourmer Australia ro search Fj: äî'3:":: þiella, which arrived from päinis salad bar. He and his friends a¡eio uora- mies and bring'em back alive. On unknown in the mid-1960s'. The Oct. 15, 1888, he found the vedalia beneficials that worked so well g on the scale insects against the common bollworm were eral packages of live not effective against the pink, and to California. Thev the insecticides made a comeback, in rwo badly infesteá killing off the beneficials rhat haá kept the common bollworm in

portant side effect; establishment of the California Biological Control Services Program. Enter the anti-hero of this tale: temperate region." Of course, that,s not an option, so what they're trv_ ing to do insread is find a étrain ín the chillier mountains of northwest- ern Ausrralia. The hope is that par_ asites rhere will be môre cold róler- scale insect and, in two years, the and therefore more likely to survive the switch in seasons.

BENEFICIAT BOOM Driven by increasing pest (and luman) resisrance to insecticides, the beneficial insect business ié bers, the scale is once again a non- Gardens$ booming. There has never been a i¡"dl threat and DDT is used ónly in con- ters availa- 10_61 Hwy. 4S. p.O. Box 149 versation-as .Sunman, Indiana a reminder of the in using 42041 harm that . chemicals can cause. tc lncreas- _ In the early 1960s, Everetr "better "Deke" J. liv- DietricÉ, widely rËgarded as ing through chemistry." the !ìme granddaddy of the'ben-eficial in- Most. members oî the general sect industry in this country, scored public associate beneficial"insects a similar victory against the cotton with the ladybug (or the lady beetle City- State_Zlp_ i I MAY/JUNE lssl-officAr 37 to you sticklers) and rhe you keep livestock. praying manris. But it's o Cryþtolaernr¿s, a mem- now generally agreed that ber of the lady beetle fam- the martial-arts , fas- ily commonly cinating called the criter though it "mealybug destroyer," may be, is not an effective after its favorite meai. It's pest predator, because it also known as Australian lady beetle. . Beneficial nematodes

As for the familiar lady- bug, there's no doubt that it does have an avid appe- tite for . fhe prõb- maggots, wireworms, lem is Japa- that once released, it nese , often June beetles away. For that and onion maggots (but reason, is the even it nnre not those friendly red earthworms). o And in the near fu- ture, reports Dr. Hagen, I brac_ í! uasþ (one of møny bencficíat sþecìes) emerges another member of-the mercially (Hiþþodamin, the slwll of ø con- fron þarasítized aþhòd. lady beetle , the aergens) collected are seven-spot beetle, Coc- mostly in the Sierra Nevada moun- you'll have ladybug larvae crawling cirulla seþtemþunrlntn, w:Jrl be avail- all over the place within a very shoñ able if the ðost of rearing can be time." brought down from the currenr $l- Þ,rn, Hip- not have ing away

A THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY FOR BENEFICIAT SUCCESS If you want to try to use beneficials to control garden pests, you should understand certain basi'cs, advises Roy VanDriesche, ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts' ento-

The arsenal of beneficials avail- this favored bug into their lives. (He able to gardeners and farmers cur- operates Gardens Alive!, Sunman, rently includes: that Ind., one of the you country's fastest ^. Spined soldier bugs, that go growing mail-order retailers of ben- after cabbage loopers and cabbage- :äü:å eficials. It mailed 160,000 orders worms. d in this last year, compared to slightly more . Predatory (there are nonnative land. Both the cottony than 100,000 the year before. GA!'s many species); one can con- cushion scale and the vedalia beeilê most popular beneficial,. in fact, is sume up to 20 pest mites, or their are examples; the scale an uninten- the ladybug.) eggs, per day. tional import and the beetle inten- "They do disperse," he concedes, ¡ The little Encørsíø formosø, tional. Both became established and "but have found I that if you re- which keeps whiteflies now exist in a sort of adversarial lease them in the evening and spray in check. balance with each other. the area wirh warer aheãd of úme, . ? Iy parasites, also tiny , o Conservation, on the other and, make sure there's an abundant which can drama[ically reáuce tïe hand, means that you try to accG supply of aphids or orher food, flies that are a package deal when mmodate the needé of nátural ene- 38 oRGANTccARDENtNc mies of pests in your environment, the cover crop and replace it with so that they prosper and perform food crops. When the remaining the service. "This often works well cover crops die back, the beneficials if you're dealing with native pests," naturally migrate over and protect. VanDriesche explains. "But it often the food crops.) does not work if you're dealing with a Augmentation means releas- introduced pests. So you can be ing beneficial insects, such as preda- doing all the right things to con- tory mites or whitefly parasites, serve and still have lots of pests. purchased from a commercial "That's why,,in addition to con- source for the purpose of pest con- servation, you often need importa- trol. tion to find the right natural ene- Beneficial Insectary in Oak Run, mies that are specific to the pest, Calif., is one of the half dozen or so and get them established if you major producers of beneficial in- can." sects in this country. Its owner, Conservation is the key to a re- Sinthya Penn, has been involved in markable success story in southern this field for l5 years. She agrees Georgia, where it had been widely that for the average gardener it is believed that raising vegetable difficult to make a realistic assess- crops without insecticides was im- ment of the effectiveness of a par- possible. But three years of trials at ticular beneficial. And that is one the Georgia Coastal Plain Experi- reason, she says, for the recent es- ment Station have shown that vege- tablishment of the Association of tables can be raised successfully Natural Biocontrol Producers, of with no insecticides at all! which she is president. Sharad Phatak, Ph.D., professor "This is a difficult issue," she de- of at the University of clares. "Quality control in this in- Georgia, explains that cover crops dustry is not as simple as it sounds." are planted in October and Novem- ANBP is currently in the process of ber, creating an environment that is setting up minimum industry stan- attractive to native beneficial in- dards. One of the problems inher- sects. (Among the most successful ent to the industry, Deke Dietrick of so far are crimson clover, subterra- Rincon-Vitova points out, is that nean clover and Vantage vetch.) most beneficials have virtually no They have counted abundant "shelf life"-that is, they typically numbers of 13 different species of live from 12 days to three weeks beneficials in these cover's, though after they're packaged. "If I don't 65 percent of the total population sell them in three weeks," he says, consists of "big-eyed bugs," Geocmis "I've got to throw them away. The functiþes. (See chart, p. 46.) The re- reason a lot of people aren't in this sult, Dr. Phatak says, "is that we business is that it's been so hard to have been able to control all of our make any money at it." major pests without insecticides." (In the spring, they remove half of A GOTDEN AGE OF BIOLOGICAT CONTROL? Indications are that the "powers that be" in the agricultural estab- lishment are slowly beginning to agree that biological controls work. The wheels of officialdom grind very slowl¡ however, and Califor- nia's Medfly battle and Buddy Maedgen's harrowing experience in Tèxas are good examples. When the Medfly, a dire threat to the industry, showed up once again in California, state au- thorities turned to malathion, a Laceuångs lay eggs, whìch høtch ìnto broad-spectrum . hungry bntae, atoþ slender filømcnts. In the previous Medfly cam- paign of 1980-82, millions of dol- the problem here, says the FDA, lars were spent-including $20 mil- was that these bugs had not simply lion for helicopters and $3.7 million walked or flown into the grain just to settle spraying-related law- under their own power. They had suits. And it may not have even been þlaced, there on purpose! It worked! Some scientists believe the mattered not a whit to FDA that the pest was brought under control purpose was to prevent real pests only because it could not survive a from damaging the grain. colder-than-normal winter. And, Nope-to them the grain had Deke Dietrick adds, "there are no simply been "contaminated." strategies for how we're going to News of the seizure traveled fast, Introductory Offu deal with the inevitable evolution of and Biofac's business plummeted. strains of malathion-resistant Thanks to vigorous protests by Medflies." Maedgen and Arrowhead, how- FREE Dietrick's answer, of course, is ever, the 300 condemned bushels beneficials. He notes that state of rye were eventually released. Agricultural Research Service ento- Offìcials of the FDA, the Envi- mologists have successfully mass- ronmental Protection Agency, and produced wasp parasites of the the USDA agreed in December of Medfly that, when combined with last year-almost three years after sterile flies, and released on an iso- the seizure-that they were "not lated island in Medfly-infested aware of any adverse health effects areas of Hawaii, were completely associated with the use of parasites effective against the pest. and predators of insect pests of "Wide-area malathion spraying stored grain and commodities." Ac- is not necessary," Dietrick says. cordingly, in early January the EPA "They've spent $50 million just in published (in the Federal Register) this last go-around, and they still a proposed rule change that would haven't gone and procured the officially allow beneficial bugs to be Medfly's natural enemies, even used in stored grain. This excerpt though we know where to go and from the register caught our fancy: get them. The cost of the most re- "In the interests of. . . reduced cent proposal (for biological control dependence on chemical controls, research) is barely $250,000 a year researchers and the grain industry Manage Aphids Naturally for five years; peanuts compared to believe the use of biological control the hundreds of millions spent on agents could be practical and have There are some bugs you want chemical-based solutions." less adverse impact on human "Buddy" MaedgenJr. owns to have around your garden. M.A. health and the environment than Biofac Inc. in Mathis, Texas, one of the use of chemical pest-control And Land Steward's Bug Charm two commercial insectaries in the agents, such as commonly used will attract them. Ladybugs, state. In 1985, Biofac began to rear grain fumigants. Furthermore, lacewings, parasitic wasps and insects-including Trichogramma since the use of biological control wasps-to control pests in stored agents would decrease the amount other beneficial insects will be grains. In April 1988, at the request of chemical pest-control agents cur- drawn to your garden by the of the Food and Drug Administra- rentþ in use, applicator/worker ex- specially formulated kairomone tion, a warrant was issued to seize a posure to highly toxic materials of scent in these charms. These bin containing 300 bushels rye at would be reduced." the Arrowhead Mills storage facility The 60-day period for comment insects nätural beneficial are in Hereford, Tèxas. (Arrowhead is (before the rule change can attain predators for many garden pests. a well-known and highly respected the power of law) expired right at See our advertisement to your supplier of organically grown press time, and so far it appears grains.) The reason for the seizure that the change will stand. (We'll right for more details and - was that insect parts were present in keep you posted.) If it does, Buddy order today! the grain. Some of those insects had Maedgen and others in the industry come from Biofac. agree that it could mean that a This was grain straight from the golden age of biological controls 434 Lower Road field; it had not yet been cleaned. mightjust be beginning. El P.O. Box 356 Grain at that stage almost always Souderton, PA 18964 contains insect parts. (The cleaning Cook writes and gardens among tht (800) M8-3043 Jack process removes most of them.) But ladybugs of 'Vermont's N orth¿ast Kingd'om. FÄX: (215) 723-5256 ed picnics? Are there nasty worm

lly grown apples, plums and cherries a sure - sign that dropped in Are you tired of picking a luscious pea iscovering t had gotten there first? Do you k^g," how much disease can be traced to And do you have environmental ? Is that what,s really buzzing in your bonnet?

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I ICIAL

Here's hoa to create tñe perfect enuironmenl for þest-eating insects. BY JOANNA PONCAVAGE

traction since 1987. They've exam- ined nearly 150 so far,'recordine the_ kinds (and numbers) of helpfuÏ and harmful insects drawn to them. themLrrçrll dehveredusuvcr-cu to your galgarden by Their recommendations take UPS. Butttut your baókyard"isbackyard is ølreaÅy Center has been workins to identifv into consideration a 's orna- home to many native beneficials the best for sucË insect a/- mental value, usefulnéss and flow-

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42 oRGANrc cARDENTNc ering time, as well as the down- nets, and the insects were bagged a Spiders. These are not insects, side-their porential to become and frozen for larer identificãtion - troublesome but are fierce predators. . and counting. Particular attention was paid to the following predators THE PROMISING PLANTS and parasites: . Based on the data they have to date, Syrphids, also called hover the RIRC researcheis believe flies. They thai atack many kinds of di- aphids. at- o Parasitic wasps. There are many kinds, including Tricho- gramrna. All lay their eggs in rhe COMPOSITES: These plants egg, larva or adult formi of pests, (Compositae) have flowers *ith u killing them. simple ray of perals RIRC METHODOLOGY o around a cen- _. Ladybugs (or lady beetles). ter. They eat a wide variety ôf other in- sects, including aphids. o Lacewings. Their larvae feed

them for nectar and pollen. Some one da¡ there were ll5 adults were chosen becauie they are and widely grorvn, showy ornamêntals. All are easily available from catalogs and nurseries. .Insidious flower bugs. A type During the tests, plants were of pirate bugs, these feeã on smäll swept regularly with insect-catching larvae, insect eggs, mites and thrips.

7I 7 \ t,

MAY/JUNE lssl 43 r

food-specifically the tansy , KELWAYI) is a 2-foot perennial long annual with feathery and which feeds by sucking the plant's valued as a dye plant that attracts fluffy white flower heads, it attracts i juices, and which tends to congre- beneficial wasps and flies. It makes insidious flower bugs, spiders, small gate in large numbers in the plant's a nice border plant, with many wasps, syrphid flies and lacewings. serrated margins. showy yellow flowers over a long You can start indoors or direct seed. If you do decide to grow tansy in period of time. It reseeds itself o (Anzthum graaeoleru) is an your garden, position it carefully! readily. Both and plants are easy-to-grow annual that reseeds it- This 4- to 5-foot-tall perennial is available. self readily. It likes moderately rich, vigorous and spreading, and when . LEMoN GEM marigold (Tagetu loose soil and full sun. Germination conditions are moist and unventi- tenuiþlia, also called Signet mari- is easy; just sow seeds where you lated, the honeydew excreted by all golds; sometimes called T. signata) want the plants. They'll get 2 to 3 those aphids gets moldy and can attracts small wasps and spiders. An turn the plant's leaves black. easy-to-grow annual that is more We hasten to add that tansy's cold-sensitive than other marigolds, benefìts far outweigh these poten- its l-foot bushy mounds are cov- tial problems. A solution made ered with one-half-inch yellow flow- from its leaves has even been found ers. For earliest blooms, start these to repel Colorado potato beetles in indoors and transplant after danger the laboratory. Tansy can be grown of frosrhas passed., from seed or propagated by divi- sion. Seeds are tiny, and germina- : Umbels are members of tion is slow, but dependable. the Umbelliferae, or , fam- o WHITE SENSATION cosmos ily. Many are food or herb plants, Ed Lachoushí, RIRC hortìctlture (Cosmos bþinnatu,s) bears beautiful including angelica and lovage. techníciøn, "sweeþs" a þlot ofasters. flowers that are attractive in garden Some are common wildflowers, or vase. They also attract lacewings, such as Queen Anne's lace. They feet tall, then go to seed. Dill at- ladybugs, insidious flower bugs and are highly regarded as attractors of tracts ladybugs, syrphids, small spiders. Although visually showier, beneficial insects, particularly tiny, wasps and spiders. SUNI{Y RED cosmos (C. suþhureus) parasitic wasps that have an easy . Sweet (Foeniculum aul- appears to attract fewer numbers of time feeding on the nectar of their gare) is an herb grown for its lico- beneficials. WHITE SENSATION cos- shallow flowers. The following fam- rice-flavored seeds and leaves. mos grows 4 to 5 feet tall. You can ily members are especially attractive (Florence fennel is very similar, but direct seed where you want them to to beneficials: is grown for its edible stalks and grow, or start them indoors for ear- ¡ Caraway (Carum carui L.),2 to bulb.) It can grow 3 feet high and, lier blooms. 3 feet high, provides aromatic seeds in mild climates, may behave like a . Anthemis (Anthemis tinctoria for use in breads and pickles. An perennial. Start indoors, or direct seed in early spring in moderately fertile soil with adequate calcium Out in the field and much sun. After germination (about two weeks), allolv to dry out he Rodale Institute Research Center is located in rural Berks County between waterings. Fennel attracts I (in southeastern Pennsylvania), about 10 miles west of OG's offices. Formerly called the Rodale i?.esearch Center (the riame change reflects its syrphids, spiders and ladybugs. (At connection to the nonproht Rodale Institute, rather than Rodale Press), its. the New Alchemy Institute in Mas- goal has always been to develop, test and refine regenerative, natural- sachusetts, it also attracted 48 spe- resource management techniques for farm and garden. cies of parasitic wasps.) It'salsooneofthefewplacesinthescientificcommunityworkin8to identify plants that provide good habitats for beneficial insects. Since 1987, MISCELLANEOUS: A wide vari- ri researchers involved in the project have included Diane Matthews- ety of other plants have interesting senior Gehringer, entomology project leader; Sarah Wolfgang, orchard _ relationships with beneficials. I leader; Terry project Schettini, horticulture coordinator; Ed Lachowski Among them: and Susan Edwards (now employed by the University of Massachusetts), . . Buckwheat (Fagoþ1rum esculm- horticulture technicians. .rl ! . Recentemphasishasfocusedonfindingbeneficial.friendlyground tum) attracts flies, ladybugs and . it covers for orchards. The best of these will be compared to sod as part of a ' syrphids, plus pollinating . Ir's five-state, USDA low-Input Sustainable Agricultrire grant seeking to ,.ìi also an effective soil-builder thar improve low-input apple production for the Northeast. - .. , I adds organic matter when turned l' This year, visitors to the research center can visit the herbary where in, ani, a good controller. Its I plants are studied for their insect-attracting qualities. For information .''; small, attractive, white flowers ap- about tours, or to contribute in support of this research, write to RIRC, pear in a few weeks, and mature i 6ll Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown, PA 19530, t seeds three to four weeks later. I Buckwheat self-seeds I readily. If i 44 oRcANTccARDENTNG I nd you'don't mow it after full flower, it bloomers, such as buckwheat, and of dill. cts Bugs up close make succession plantings Iall Sow cosmos and marigold now for gs. We midsummer blooms. Start growing sea- 3d. will tansy and anthemis for a long an clos son of flowers year after year. it- Of course, there are some rough rh, might be to have a perma-nent edges to be smoo on buc-kwheat patch near the garden- nished plant bug ou instead of in it. bugs that can defor o (Mentha sþicata), and vegetabl ,5 Spearmint vial around it and close the toP.) len and nectar." So if you think a which makes a refreshing tea and Put the via-l in a refrigerator for beneficial planting might be attract- and a short time-the cold will slow with the insect-and then èxamine it ing too many insect þests, try an- also with a magnifying glass. To iden- other plant. and tify your catch, refer to our chart Remember, as with all aspects of should be planted in a container or on p. 46, or one of the identifica- organic , the goal in given lots of space. Transplant (for tion guides listed below. using beneficials is not complete [ruer flavors) or start from seed. eradication of pest populations, but o Many kinds of legumes, such sure you are planting ones that control. You can achieve a natural as crimson clover, white clover or beneficials like, too. Many flowers balance between pests and preda- vetch can also help you attract ben- have been bred for showyness- tors by creating a habitat that's both eficials. They provide alternate size, pe[als and color-and may useful and ornamental. à¡, prey, good shelter and moisture, have lostthe nectar and Pollen Rodale's own insect expert, Dianc make them at- ãnd they're absolute champions at characteristics that Matthatts-Gehringer þrouided much of tlu at- adding nitrogen to the soil. tractive to insects. Perhaps this is information for tltk article and illwtration. all (Note: While attractive, LEMoN why insects seem to prefer wildflow- Now th¿ senior entomnlog't þroject leader, GEM marigold and CUT AND CoME ers and herbs-no one's develoPed Diane has been uith tlw Rodale Institute ul- AGAIN zinnia harbored fewer bene- their appearance at the exPense of Research Center since 1976. Slw has a :o- ficials than other composites or the their natural functions. master's degree in entomologl from the Delauare, and sþecializes in umbels. They were tested because To ensure a full season of benefi- Uniaersity of -'s. oegetable and pest managemznt. )ut they are so extensively grown.) cial-friendly flowers, start with early fruit rd rd, HABITAT HOW.TO SOURCES :a In addition to nectar and Pollen, :ct insects also need mois- beneficial IDENTIFICATION GUIDES Thompson & Morgan Inc. wind a¡rd rain, al- :ly ture, shelter from o A Field Guide to the Insects North of P.O. Box 1308 im them through ternate prey to get Mexico by DJ. Borrer & R. E. Jackson, NJ 08527 on the lean times, and places to spend White (Houghton-Mifflin Co.). One Seeds of antlwmis, dill and LEMIN rut the winter. Usually, the more di- of the Peterson Field Guide Series. GEM marigold. rts verse and varied habitat will better An introduction to insect identifi- Well Sweep Herb Farm Ar supply these needs. catron. 317 Mt. Bethel Road ìs- First, evaluate what you already o Rodale\ Color Handbooh of Garden Port Murray, NJ 07865 ,e- have. If you grow in containers, Insects by Anna Carr (Rodale Seeds and planß of d.ill, carauay, fennel consider adding a few pots of spear- Press). A classic; often referred to and tansy; sþearmint þlanß. mint or dill. If you have a big , outside of OG as a "first choice." Whayes End Nursery some strips of fennel, rl- consider long PLANTS AND SEEDS P.O. Box 310 ng ,l caraway or buckwheat. near your W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Burgess, Vl^22432 ls. garden, You can create a border 300 Park Ave. Anthzmis þIanß; "butterfly" plants that 1 with perennial anthemis and tansy. Warminsrer, PA 18974 proaid,e nectar and þollen. T¿- l Insects are attracted to the shel- Seeds of wnrct sENs,{TloN cosmos, SOCIETIES rd rer of windbreaks and hedgerows, diII, LEMIN cEM marigold, sþearmint Young Entomologists' t's and these can also serve to liven up and tansy. Society Inc. at an otherwise dull landscape. A thick Gardens Alive! 1915 Peggy Place :d stand of cosmos also makes a nice Highway 48 Lansing, MI489l0 Its privacy fence. A small water garden P.O. Box 149 (5r7) 887-049e p- will supply insects with moisture- Sunman, IN 47041 Informationfm all ages and interests. Publishes the Y.E.S. International En- re as will an attractive shallow dish Seeds of caraway, dill and fennel; buch- Guide, ppd. filled with pebbles and water. wheat, Iegume and oth¿r coaer crops tomology Resource fig If If you are partial to flowers, be MAY/.JUNE rg9l 45 THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAT INSECTS AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

i

I Compiled by Línda Gilkeson and Joel Grossman

I

DESCRIPTION Tiny (1/re") and delicate with long legs. Larvae are bright orange maggots (1/rt/a'J. Common throughout North America. PREYS ON 60 species of aphids (on vegetables, flowers, fruit and shade trees). tIFE CYCTE Eg ong the aphids, then e feed on ap drop to the soil and cocoons; pu adults emerge. The I ov soil; adults emerge i HOW TO ATTRACT Attract with dill, mustard, thyme, sweet clover, and other pollen and nectar plants; shelter garden from strong winds; provide water in a pan filled with gravel.

HOW TO APPLY Sold commercially. release 250 cocoons for small garden or greenhouse, 3-5 pupae per plant, or 5{0 cocoons per apple tree. Repeat in two weeks.

DESCRIPTION Tiny (rfd'long), slender, black or brown, with characteristic "wasp-waist." Larvae are tiny white grubs that develop inside the pest "hosts." Widespread. PREYS ON Several aphids, including green peach, melon and pea aphids. LIFE CYCTE Eggs are la ), aphid is killed. After 10-18 days g the aphid into a riqid "mummy"' õorpse¡l ndult emer{es in 810 days t L Br HOW TO ATTRACT to nectar-rich plants with small flowers (anise, caraway, dill, Adult Aph¡dius etv¡ amily, white clbver, lemon balm, corn spurry, wild carrót, rrow). Do not use water traps or yellow sticky pest traps; these

HOW TO APPLY Move leaves with mummies to problem areas. Becoming available commercially; release 50-100 pupae in garden or small greenhouse when aphids appear in APHID PARASIÎ ES { spnng. (Aphidius mat¡ícariae and related species of braconid wasps)

DESCRIPTION

tly

PREYS ON Many insects, including flies, tomato hornworms and other large caterpillars. LIFE CYCLE I Eggs are laid (singly or in clusters) in crevices. Nymphs develop for awhile, then hhtrnate in a pre-adult stage, becoming adults the next June, HOW TO ATTRACT Provide permanent plantings for shelter. Newly hatched nymph Assassin bug adult HOW TO APPTY ASSASS¡Í{ BUGS Not available commercially. (Reduvíidae lamilyl

46 oRGANTccARDENTNc t f' -''.- - '.î:il'."r t_ I

THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

DESCRIPTION Bulging eyes, but otherwise nondescript; gray, brown, black or tan with tiny blaik spots, 1/a-t/0" long. Wingless nymphs are similar to adults. Found throughout North America. .'/s"). PREYS ON Eggs ms, hornworms, loopers, corn earworms, lygus bués ppers, flea beetles, psyllids, mealybugs and thrip 12 small caterpillars oi leafhoppers per day. IIFE CYCTE ,.d * year. Some adults hibernate in garden trash, emerge in 0ns; plant stems and underside of leáves. Adults remain active re is a cover crop. HOW TO ATTRACT Big-eyed bug on corn Attracted by alfalfa, potatoes, beets and subterranean clover. Provide flower t nectar when pests are scarce. h HOW TO APPLY BIG-EYED BUGS Not available commercially (6eocoris spp.) 5

DESCRIPTION Adults are tiny ('/ret/:"), slender, black or brown, "wasp-waisted" w¡th clear wings. Larvae are tiny, white grubs that live inside (or on) other insects. Numerous species common throughout North America. PREYS ON r-lad. Armyworm, cabbageworm, codling moth, gypsy moth, European corn borer and many other caterpiìlars, beetle larvae, flies, aphids and other insects (see aphid parasite). \ IIFE CYCLE i,f z ; lid : les tn

Cocoons of braconid wasp on tomato hornworm

d¡il, HOW TO ATTRACT these Grow nectar plants with small flowers (dill, parsley, wild carrot, corn spurry, mustard, white clover, lemon balm, stinging nettle, yarrow). Crocuses supply early pollen. I{OW TO APPTY cially; tn Some species available commercially for greenhouse use. Leave container open or BRACONID W^SPS d sprinkle them around. (Braconi dae I amily, e.g. Apanteles glomeratusl

DFSCRIPTION àve Adults are slender, gray or brown, with long beaks tucked backwards under head ,me (3/¡-'/2"): They move rapidly; some species can fly long distances. Nymphs are rightly slender, wingless, and smaller than adults, PREYS ON Aphids, thrips, plant bugs, leafhoppers, treehoppers, small caterpillars. I IFF CYCI F ers. 'l Eqqs are laid in plant t¡ssue and hatch in week. Nymphs immediately begin- fe-e-ding and dev'elop for 3-4 weeks until their final ñroli to adults; adúlts , th* overwinter. Two or more generations per season. HOW TO ATTRÂCT Common throughout North America in orchards and fields, especially alfalfa. I'I Damsel bug adult HOW TO APPLY You can collect damsel bugs with a sweep net in alfalfa fields and release them DAMSET BUGS around your garden or orchard. I (Nabidae lamily, e.g. Nabis americof erusl

MAY/JUNE l99r 47 THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAT INSECTS AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

DESCRIPTION Large, long or dark brown beetles, usually with iridescent sheen (1"). ones by day. Larvae are elonqãted, dark brown or black, with legs (rárely seen). More than-2,500 species common th erica. PREYS ON Most species prey on slugs, snails, cutworms and cabbage-root maggots in soil; some pursue prey on plants ortrees, such as larvae, gypsy moth and tent caterp¡llars.

Ground beetle larva Ground beetle adult LIFE CYCLE Overwi I in spring and lay eggs. Larvae prey on soil-dw en pupate in soil.-Adu'lts remain in the soil until th . Uiuàlly I generation per year; individual beetles HOW TO ATTRACT Provide plantings in garden and allow some weeds, especia lover as grouñd cover in orchards; make perman hways throughout garden to provide refuges. HOW TO APPLY GROUND BEETLES Collect them from rotting trees and release them in the garden. (Carabidae tamilyl Larva eal

DESCRIPTION Adults wings covere n, mottle throug PREYS ON Soft-bodied insects including aphids, thrips, mealybugs, some scales, moth eggs, smail caterpilrars an0 mrles.

Lacewing larva Brown lacewing LIFE CYCLE Eggs are laid singly on the end of lonq, fine stalks, and hatch in 4-7 days. Larvae feed forabout 3 weeks,then form cõcoons and pupate for 5-7 days. Ádults emerge from the top ofthe cocoon; last generatiòn'in fall hibernatês as pupae or adults. HOW TO ATTRACT Grow pollen and nectar plants (dill, angelica, corn, sunflowers). Allow some flowering weeds (dandelion, goldenrod). Provide water during dry spells. HOW TO APPTY TACEWINGS 2 species sold commercially; scatter 500-1,000 eggs throughout average garden. (Chrysoperla and Chrysopa spp.)

DESCRIPTION

PREYS ON Adults and larvae-of many species feed on aphids; some only on mealybugs, sp¡der m¡tes or s01t scales. LIFE CYCLE ln spring, overwintering adul hatch in 3-5 days and làrvae pupate on plant stems or the local species hibernate as ad Hatching larvae (center); mature larva, pupa and adult migrates to the Sierra Mount ladybug (from top) HOW TO ATTRACT Grow pollen and nectar flowers (anqelica, dill); qrow qrains; allow weeds (dandelion, wild carrot, yarrow). Prolect egg clustlrs, la-rvae and pupae on plants. Mantis nyr HOW TO APPTY Purchased H.-convergensoften fly away from gardens, but are effective for a IADY BEETTES; TADYBUGS greenhouse ¡t vents are screened. Collect native species from hay or grain fields. (Hippodamia spp., Adalia bipunctata and many others)

48 oRGANTccARDENTNG THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAT INSECTS AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

;.rt own of s

in soil; , gypsy

DESCRIPTION

'y on ,he soil iividual PREYS ON Adults and lurut

..dt rdü'jlI'*, r o u s e s s m e ,'fJrne tü:tarvae Ji|1'jlT' leed on eqos and -" :fuges. plants and adults erñérge in eaniolñã--- indoors, but this develo'pme luqi-in winter.l

Larva eating mealybugs Adult beetle

35; l MEATYBUG DESTROYER (C lrown, r y ptol a e m u s m o nt ro u zi e r î)

DESCRIPTION e9gs,

-** PREYS ON '':5 lae or tIFE CYCLE

1e

Minute p¡rate bug adult ¡rden.

HOW TO APPLY ,h MINUTE PIRATE BUGS re to commercial growers for thrip control i -like, (Orius spp.) ovals -Iì0n

DESCRIPTION

Js,

Eoos PREYS ON then Any insects th fall, tIFE CYCLE t5

I . ; f Mantis nymph Mantis religiosa adult -a ;l HOW TO APPLY tI elds. t PRAYING MANTIS tt (e.9, European mantid, Mantis religiosa) t, I MAY/JUNE lgel 49 THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAT INSECTS l AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA I l

DESCRIPTION Minute (r/so"), pear-shaped, reddish-orange and fast-moving; Sold widely for use in and gardens.

PREYS ON Spider mites, such as two-spotted mite, red mite, Pacific mite. LIFE CYCLE Eggs are laid among spider-mite webbing. Nymphs hatch in 1-2 days, molting several times until they reach the adult stage in 7{0 days. Not hardy; mitesdie outdoors in subf reezing temperatures. HOW TO ATTRACT Not native to North America. Live mites must be available when released. HOW TO APPLY orange predatory mite adult Release 2 to 10 mites per plant on strawberr nts at first sign of spider mites; does not work well be obvious in 2 to 3 weeks; mist plants to encou r mite PREDATORY MNEú reproduction.

(Phy tos ei ulus pe rsim ilisl Spider r

DESCRIPTION Very tiny (under 3/so"). lncludes six-spotted thrips (yellow with black spots on wings); black hunter thrips and banded-wing thrips (yellow to brown with dark cross bands on the wings). Found throughout North America. PREYS ON Eggs and larvae of spider mites, aphids, other thrips, Oriental fruit moth, codl¡ng moth, bud moth, peach twig borer, alfalfa weevil, whitefly, leafminer f lies, and scales. TIFE CYCLE Eggs are laid in leaves and stems. 1-2 weeks later, nymphs emerge and feed, Some species drop to the ground, and emerge as adults. Several generations each year; most prevalent in late spring to midsummer. Adult predatory thrips HOW TO ATTRACT Nymph' They prefer insect prey, but will eat plant juices and pollen for survival. Provide pollen by planting flowers and corn. HOW TO APPLY PREDATORYTH RPS{ Not available commercially. (Thripidae lamily and others)

DESCRIPTION Adults are brown or black cover¡ng only the lorward pinchers. When disturbed The larvae resemble adult PREYS ON Many are predators of aphids, springtails, nematodes, fly eggs and maggots in the soil; some are parasitic on cabbage-root maggots and larvae ofotherflies. Many species are scavengers on decaying material. LIFE CYCLE Little es live mostly in and on the soil, although adults can fly well; nter as adults, becoming active in the spring and laying their larvae pass through 3 molts as they prey or scavenge, then Rove beetle larva Rove beetle adult HOW TO ATTRACT Larva wil Maintain permanent beds and plantings to protect population; ¡nterplant strips of rye, other grains or cover crops; mulch planting beds; make stone or plank walkways in garden to provide refuges. HOW TO APPLY ROVE BEETTES lf you find them in your soil, put them in the garden. (St a p h y I i n í d a e f amily)

50 ORGANICGARDENING

' ' -' -i;l Þi ':. .,;'ì!,çF Fhl?vv BENEFICIAL INSECTS THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

i:f Ll5€

tng ¿s d¡e

ìnñi be !r mite

destroYer adult Spider mite destroYer larva Spider mite HOW TO APPLY Not available commerciallY. , SPIDER MITE DESTROYER (Stetáorus sPP.) on h dark

..oãirs '5, and

*;: ns each

(right) w¡th Nymph with cabbage webworm Adult Pest PuPa ')rovide

M.¡.t.'t p.t*t.tt b.dt .f perennials in garden to provide shelter'

control beetle larvae' SPINED SOIDIER BUG (P o d i su s m aculi ve ntilsl ngs without eir back. merica.

¡S*t i. rer flies.

ts can fly rnd laying ;cavenge,

adult Larva with prey Syrphid .at ttflpa rr plank

SYRPHID FTIES (Syrphidaelamily). Aiso ialled hover flies or flower flies'

M.{Y/JUNE l99l 51 f

THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAT INSECTS AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

tf NFçCRIPTION t/:-1lr"; Adults are robust, gray, brown , similar to , some covered viith bristles. nside insect hosts. Hundreds of species throughout able as pest predators.

PREYS ON Many species of caterpillars, including cutworms, armyworms, tent caterpillars, cabbãgb looper, gypsy moth; some attack sawflies, Jaþanese beetle, May beetle, squasñ bugs, green stink bug, sowbugs. I IFF CYCLE Eoos are laid near the oests or on their skin. The larvae are eaten by the host or búírow into ¡t, eventuålly killing it. They pupate inside the dead hoit or in soil nearby. 1-2 generations per year.

Tachnid larva Tachnid adult HOW TO ATTRACT Grow pollen and nectar plants (dill, parsley, sweet cloue¡, Phaceliasp,, fennel, buckniheat and herbs) throughout yòur gaiden. Allow weeds to grow, especially goldenrod, wild carrot, amaranth. HOW TO APPLY Don't kill caterpillars with white eggs stuck to them-they will produce more TACHINID FtIES flies. (Íamily lachinidael

DFSCRIPTION Adults (l/zJln") are swi tterned.(many are brioht blue. oreen are S-shaped, seomeñted, w¡ih-hum e of their back wifh stronq hooks to n attracted to lights at night. Many

PREYS ON Both adults and larvae prey on a wide variety of insects but are considered mostly beneficial.

LIFE CYCLE Eqqs are la in soil; larvae lie in burrows and wait for prey' Lãivae dev gging deep into soil to hibernate each winter; adults also Entire life cycle can take 2'3 years. Tiger beetle adult HOW TO ATTRACT Maintain permanent beds and areas in garden to preserve populations from changes during cult¡vation and harvesting. HOW TO APPLY TIGER BEETTES Don't leave outdoor lights on all night; this will coax them out of the garden. Most (Cicindelidae lamilyl sprns Molti

Linda DESCRIPTION Victo are minute yellow parasitic wasps ('/rm" long) with darker abdomens and Adults and c bright red eyes. Laivae arâ tiny, white grubs that llle inside host eggs. Found throughout North America. Chart Max I PREYS ON Marti Eggs of over 200 species of moths, including spruce budworm, cotton bollworm, tomato hornworm, corn earworm, corn borers, codling moth. Dwigl LIFE CYCTE John , Eg rvae develop ts of the Charlr eg wasps matÙr outofthe Jame! hõ takei only 8- generations pe ate. Edwa John i HOWTOATTRACT, Maintain a diversity of plants, including dill, anise, caraway and fennel. Provide Ron V ground covers. p.53 t Trichogramma pretiosum parasitizes egg mixtures of clover and flowering weeds in orchard HOW TO APPLY Sold commercially but buying wasps is only advisable for large plantings; they d parasitize freshlylaid egg-s, so moth eggs-must be present when wasps are first TRICHOGRAMMA WA5P5 released. (Trichogramma minutum and rclated ln-.ll

52 oRGANIc cARDENING \ r"'.:-_nm1 -- THE ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE TO IMPORTANT BENEFICIAT INSECTS AND MITES OF NORTH AMERICA

DESCRIPTION s¡milar to Adults are minute ('/:0") parasitic wasps with yellow abdomen, black thorax. rs¡de insect Larvae are minute, creamy grubs concealed inside host. Not native to North rble as pest Ameflca.

PREYS ON Greenhouse whitefly, sweet potaro whitefly. Iterpillars, lay beetle, LIFE CYCTE

he

:he host or or in soil HOW TO ATTRACT Not native to North Amer¡ca.

fennel, HOW TO APPLY , Encarsia formosa adult with whitefly larvae especially eenhouses; can be used outdoors in warm, lonq-season ites per tomato or cucumber plant when first wlitefly is . Minimum order of 1,000 is sufficient for most homd Most successf ul in warm, bright conditions (not late fall WHITEFTY PARASITE or winter). Not hardy, but may overwinter outdoors iñmild areas. (Encarsia formosa)

DESCRIPTION Minute (r/so") reddish tan, fast-moving mites nat¡ve to western North America. PREYS ON Spider mites, especially European red mite, citrus red mite. tIFE CYCLE r mites; nymphs hatch in 3-4 days, molting several adult stage in 5 days. This is a hãrdy specles, red mostly cracks and crevices under tree bark. HOW TO ATTRACT Grow pollen-producing plants. ìit for prey. HOW TO APPLY rch winter; Adult mite Sold commercially for use in strawberries and orchards. Release 50 to 100 mites pe¡_a-pple tree in summer or early fall to establish permanent population; use WESTERN PREDATORY MITE 1,000 per tree to control pest ouibreak in the samê season. rs from (Metaseiulus ( : Typhlodronus) occidentalisl

garden. Most of these insects progres fiom an egg to a larva (which is wingless and usually worm-like). ln. the next stage, pupa þort of like being a teenager), the insect generally spins a cocoon inside which it changes into an adult. Some insects have a nymph stage instead of the larval and pupal stages; a nymphìs a smallãr, less developõd adult. Molting occurs when the insect outgrows and casts off its coat,

Linda Gilkeson, Ph.D., is director of research at Applied Bio-Nomics, a company that specializes in research and commercial production of biological control agents near cmens and and other journals. s. Found Chart photographs by: Max E. Badgley/Biological Photography-p.46 middle; p.48 middle right; p,49 top left, top right; p,50 botrom left; p.51 top lefr; p.52 bottom; p.53 middle. bollworm, Martin Dohrn/Science Photo Library/Photo Researthers-p.50 top. Dwight Kuhn-p.46 bottom. lohn A. Lynch-p.49 bottom right. s of the Charles W Melton-p.46 top. lut of the James H, Robinson-p.46 bottom left; p.47 middle right; p.48 bottom; p.49 bottom left. ¡enerations Edward S. Ross-p 47 middle left, p.48 top right, middle left. John Serrao-p,48 top left. el. Provide Ron West-p,47 top, bottom; p.49 middle; p,50 middle, bottom right; p.5l top right, middle left, middle right, bottom left, bottom right; p.52 top left, top right, middle; p.53a top. indicates a "micro-beneficial" insect; ngs; they @ one which is too small to be seen clearly with the naked eye. ps are first

In all cases, remember to never apply pestic¡des; they not only kill bad bugs but also take out the good guys, too.

MAY/JUNE legl 53 a -

THE FOOL-YA BUGS! Can you recognize fúend from foe?

are insect kingdom. Can you "bug mugs" out V o.r say you have a pretty good idea of who your friends in the pick their most by fool you? a glimpse of some of the major I in a crowd-especially a crowd of enemy bugs designed nature to Here's how masters of disguise, and the beneficials they're impersonating. -Jill Jesiolowshi you I they Si LADYBUGS AND their MEXICAN BEAN BEETLES clim¿ Ladybugs range from white, yellow or coun ro th orange to red and even black, and can bene vary in size and the number of spots then they have on their back. But Mexican a bean beetles aluals have 16 dots, and that are yellowish-brown to coppery. onh (Ladybugs also are slimmer and faster Br than the plump, round Mexican bean you ( Lailybug Mæican beøn beetl¿ beetles.) will < Reler even SPINED SOLDIER BUG AND wher gard STINK BUG "t Spined soldier bugs are tough to dis- relea tinguish from stink bugs by color, so Niler look closely for the sharply pointed Alivr shoulders that identify the good sol- sevel dier. The spined soldier bug actually "SP. takes its name from a conspicuous you r spine on the underside of each of its after ladyl front legs. wher Sþined soldíer bug Stink bug esPel dispt says. TACHINID FLY AND you'r HOUSEFTY enou The most obvious difference is the leave presence oflarge bristles on the ab- wing domen of most tachinids. Houseflies care U have no prominent bristles. Tachinids nym. also move around in a fast, jerky un- and r housefly-like manner. A housefly's (eacÌ zì wings lay straight back when it's o per f resting; a tachinid's lay at an angle to manl - Tøchinàdfly Housefly its body. 2 fee o thert youn 2 o T: ù GROUND BEETLE AND BEETLE PCI T È DARKTING feet : Ground beetles (good-they eat slugs) Garc I are usually shiny, while darkling such beetles (bad-they eat your plants) are "You a dull. The tips of a darkling beetle's z the ¡ ! antennae are slightly larger than the relea o antennae segments at the base; lacev I ground beetle antennae tips are rarely with I enlarged. Some ground beetles also plan o after T Ground beetlc Darkling beetle have patterns oflighter colors. 54 ORCANICGARDENING ,

Here's how rc get your bugs off to a good starr y now you probably have a betrer idea of which beneficial will be the most benef,icial in yur garden. But how many do you-ordei? And how do you welcome your new guests once they arrive?

Quantiries to order? Remember that the numbers will depend largely on how infested your gaiden is. ' But here are a few iules of thumb

There seuerøl thöngs you can do to welcome your neu) ladybug atter their longjourney." Also, guests. ladybugs need to be reieased in an area Ìvasps should be where there -Trichogramma is abundant food, released when you see-the first sign especially of aphids. "But they uill pest presence. For a small area, disperse over a period of time," he Gardens Alive! recommends three says. "That's jusr a facr of life." If

apart.

e more than half go in the first release, then reinforce with two more releases of equal amounts. ïöiï#* obtain. â" sthod for there is enough cover to protect the young when they hatch. Try about_ I O-green lacerr.ing eggs per plant or 1.000 eggs per 200 sqõare similar feet for moderate infestations. product (it also contains whey). To make your new guests Gardens Alive! recommends three want to direct sun until most of them hatch. stay, create a habitat such releases at two-week intervals. that encourages them to stay around. provide "You have a better chance ofcatching wate"r, nectar and a haven of the pest in its life cycle with several " their favorite

MAY/JUNE r99l 55 Beneficials on the move Chow time

henever I've planted alfalfa upwind and around the perimeter of p ig-eyed bugs come from a V V crops needing protection, many big-eyed bugs, pirate bugs, I-l family of seed eating bugs, and vestiges lacewings and ladybugs have arrived. One USDA found study found 40 of this seed-eating big-eyed bugs and 20 pirate bugs per l0 square feet in alfalfa interplanted habit can be used to increase with vegetables. Halving that alfalfa plot when predators are abundant your garden big-eyed bug forces beneficials into the vegetable crops under attack, population. The USDA ran an Meanwhile, a "breeding population" of beneficials remains behind in experiment in which a quarter- the uncut alfalfa. Big-eyed bugs breed exceptionally well in alfalfa, though pound of chopped sunflower seeds was scattered potatoes, peas, beets, broccoli and orchard grass are also attractive. So, on plots of when the cut alfalfa grows back (it takes about a month during the beets twice during the growing summer), the other half can be cut for another beneficial insect release. season. This supplemental food (I've had a few spider mites and corn earworm moths move out of the doubled the number of big-eyed (compared alfalfa along with the beneficials, but the advantages of the predator bugs to plots without release has far outweighed this tiny drawback.) seeds.) Grossrnan -Joel Grossman -Joel

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Applied Bionomics W. Atlee Burpee The Necessary Trading Company (U.S. customers) 300 Park Ave. I Nature's Way 11074 W. Saanich Road Warminster, PA 18974 New Castle, VA24127 Sidney, BC (215) 674-4900 (703) 864-5103 Canada V8L 3Xg Free catalog Catalog fi2, refundable uith order (604) 656-2123 Henry Field Seed & Nursery Co. Orcon Free brochures P.O. Box 600 5132 Venice Blvd. or Shenandoah, IA 51601 Los Angeles, CA 90019 Sales Westgro-Agrico Ltd. (605) 665-4491 (2r3) 937-7444 (Canadian customers) Free catalog Free brochures 7333 Progress Way Delta, BC Gardener's Supply Peaceful Valley Farm Supply it Canada V4G lE7 128 Intervale Road P.O. Box 2209 l (800) 663-2552 Burlington, m 05401 Grass Valley, CA 95945 (802) 863-1700 (916) 272-4769 Arbico Inc. Free catalog Catalog ff2 P.O. Box 4247CRB Tucson, A285738 Gardens Alive! (Natural Gardening Richters (800) 767-2847 (SOS-BUGS) Research Center) P.O. Box 26 Free catalog Highway 48 Goodwood, ONT P.O. Box 149 Canada LOC lA0 Bozeman BiojTech Sunman, IN 47041 (4t6) 640-6677 1612 Gold Ave. (812) 623-3800 Catalog or $1 with order Box 3146 fi2.50, Free catalog Bozeman, MT 59772 Rincon-Vitova Insectaries Inc. (800) 289-6656 Harmony Farm Supply P.O. Box 95 (406) 587-589r P, O. Box 460 Oak View, CA 93022 Free catalog Graton, CA95444 In Calif.: (805) 643-5407 (707) 823-et25 Outside Calif.: (800) 248-2847 Biofac Catalog #2, refundnble uith order Free brochures P.O. Box 87 Mathis, TX 78368 Mellinçr's Unique Insect Control (5r2) 547-3259 2310 W. South Range Road P.O. Box 15376 Free catalog North Lima, OH 44452 Sacramento, CA 95851 (800) 32r-7444 (e16) 961-7945 ' Buena Biosystems Free catalog Free brochtnes P.O. Box 4008 Ventura, CA 93007 Natural Gardening Company (805) 525-2525 217 San Anselmo Ave. San Anselmo, CA 94960 Free catalog ($50 minirnum þurchase) (415) 456-5060 Free catalog

56 ORGANICGARDENING