Natural Aphid Control with Aphid Hunter Wasps
Ditch the carcinogenic pesticides and follow natures model with biological aphid control. Many of you probably know that ladybird beetles aka lady bugs and their larvae eat aphids but did you know that there are several other insects you can attract to your garden that just as eagerly devour those pesky aphids? In this creature feature I am going to focus on one the Psenini wasps aka aphid hunters. According to the Iowa State University Department of Entomology there are 66 speices of Psenini wasps living in North America all of which prey upon aphids and other small softbodied insects. Aphid hunters can easily be incouraged to take up residence in your garden by placing a wood bee block drilled with 4mm, 5/32 to 11/64th diameter holes a few inches deep being careful not to drill all the way through as the holes need a solid back. They nest in cavities in a similar fashion to mason or leafcutter bees but wasp hunters are much smaller and instead of packing the tubes with pollen to feed their young they fill them with paralized aphids.
Will have to try this one.
I have to try these, this is the third or fourth time I have head about them. Huge aphid problem here in KY and not a lady bug to be found!
Build it and they will come! I am sure you have some around they are so small that they go unnoticed. I have difficulty telling for sure what they are until they land at the nest entrance. Sometimes I don't even see them at all and only notice that the hole has been sealed with little pebbles or chewed up leaf bits.
I will have to keep an eye out for them, I checked into buying them but they are expensive!
that is a great nest idea to incorporate in the garden.