Milkweed whitefly: Is the bloom doomed?

9 years ago

I saw some white webbing by the blooms and when I poked it, some white bugs hopped out. I cleaned them out of the plant but I'm wondering if the floppy blooms will make it? Also found some orange round beetles that looked like larva on my other type of milkweed and have also cleaned them up. I really need to locate some praying mantis from the older garden but their kinda small and hard to find yet. I always have a large supply and the amount of nests I found this spring was plentiful...Would they eat those pests?

Comments (7)

Kristy Asao
9 years ago
My local plant place has praying mantises (and lady bugs) you can buy.
karen64
Original Author
9 years ago
Wow, that's interesting you can purchase them! Hmmm, maybe I'll send my daughter outside with a magnifying glass and have her set up a praying mantis stand! Or maybe a you-pick sign, lol...How do they keep them alive? Anyway, I hope the blooms make it.
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karen64
Original Author
9 years ago
Ohhhhhh...they would eat potential cats too...
Leafhead
9 years ago
They sell the oethecums, or egg cases. Each oethecum contains up to 200 or so eggs!! They are extremely cannibalistic, and WILL eat your cats and butterflies too.
You're better off ordering some Lacewing larvae online. They are veracious predators on small insect pests and leave older cats and butterflies alone. They ship them 500 at a time for around $25.00-$35.00.
You can also order Ladybugs online, but I think the Lacewings are a lot more fun.
Kristy Asao
9 years ago
I do like the lace wing larvae. They look like crocodiles with sideways jaws. I like how the adults look with those distinctive wings.
karen64
Original Author
9 years ago
I remember seeing Lacewing's when I was younger. Not so much anymore.
woollybear69
9 years ago
A beautiful plant photo.