RELEASE
TUTORIALS
Best Practices for Applying Beneficial Insects
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Application Instructions
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DMV Beneficials
Lacewing Larvae : Bottle Application
- Before Release
- What’s in the Bottle?
- How to Apply
- FAQ
1) Before Release
Before your bugs arrive, it’s always a good idea to water your plants. The bugs will be thirsty after their long trip, and having some moisture on the plants will really help them rehydrate.
Before you apply the beneficials, you should also rinse off the plant or at least wipe the leaves and stems with a damp rag or paper towel. Beneficial bugs are very good at eating prey, but it’s important that we help them out by knocking down pest populations before they even start. You and your bugs are a team!
Plain old water is great – the goal is to remove the pests from the plant! Some people like to use castile soap in addition to water. (Just make sure it is castile soap and not dish soap. Dish soaps, like Dawn, are actually detergents and contain compounds that can damage your leaves.)
Other people like to use diluted rubbing alcohol – just make
sure to wash or wipe it off so it doesn’t dry the plant out.
You can also use soft toothbrushes, small paintbrushes, or makeup brushes to gently sweep everything down— that’s especially helpful for removing eggs if the pest you’re fighting lays them on the leaf surface.
Now we’re ready and the lacewings are here, let’s open up this bottle and offer them a meal!
2) What’s in the lacewing larvae bottle?
The bottle can look a little different depending on the lacewing larvae distributor. But inside the container, you’ll most commonly see a buckwheat husk substrate. That’s what the lacewing larvae crawl around in. It also helps protect them in transit.
Don’t worry if you do not see any larvae at first. You can check on how lively the bottle is by pouring a little bit into the cap or a small bowl. Then you can sift through the substrate until you find a bug.
You may also be able to see the larvae moving around as you apply the substrate to your plant(s). But again, it’s more common not to see them at all! They are very small.
Isn’t he cute? Come on, you think he’s cute.
3) How to apply
This part is super simple!
Before you open the bottle, gently tilt and rotate it a few times to help distribute the lacewing larvae throughout the substrate. The bugs might have settled to the bottom or one of the sides during transport, so this will help you apply everything more evenly to your plants.
Method 1: Go for it
You can pour the substrate directly on the soil and even on the leaves if they’re large enough. Try to pour it evenly around the plant, spreading in increments of half a capful to a full capful, to discourage the larvae from congregating in one spot and eating each other.
After a few days, you can scoop or tip the substrate out of the soil, or you can just leave it there if you prefer – that’s up to you, but it won’t harm your plants.
Method 2: Contain yourself
If you’ve got a hydro or semi-hydro setup, or if you just don’t like the husk substrate in your pots, you can pour the husks into a reusable or disposable container.
Some people like to use paper or silicone cupcake liners, or cut-up silicone ice trays, or the halves of plastic Easter eggs, or just flat paper or mesh screen-door material. As long as there’s a small hole for them to crawl through, or the container’s walls aren’t ridiculously high, the bugs should be able to crawl out just fine, and you can easily dispose of the substrate in a day or two.
Method 3: Strategize
You can find and place the bugs individually. Sift around the substrate with a small tool—a Q-tip, a plastic spoon, an old chopstick, until you find a lacewing larva. Scoop it out and apply it directly to the plant.
This method is great for more targeted release approaches, by strategically placing the lacewing larvae closer to where pests tend to congregate.
FAQ
How much should each plant get?
Each bottle of lacewing larvae usually treats 15-20 six-inch pots.
If you’re treating an active pest issue, start your application on the most affected plant(s) and work outward in semi-circles until you run out of lacewing larvae. You can group affected plants together so the lacewings can roam for more food.
If you’re applying them preventatively, try to distribute them evenly throughout your plant collection to ensure as much coverage as possible.
Will they wander?
Usually, beneficial bugs have a strong preference for staying on plants – it’s where their food, water, and shelter is. So you almost never see them wandering around.
But one exception can be thirsty lacewings. If you find them meandering up a wall or sleeve, it’s probably because the plant needs more water. If your plant is not due for watering, you can also mist it with a spray bottle to offer lacewings a drink.
Ouch! Did he just bite me?
Lacewing larvae are the only predator that sometimes get a little too chummy. When they emerge from the bottle, they are looking for food and water. Try to move quickly when you apply them so they can get to the feast pronto.
Can I wait to apply the bugs?
In general, you should apply the bugs as soon as you can after receiving them, because lacewings can cannibalize each other if they get hungry enough. Hey, we’ve all been there!
DMV Beneficials
Lacewing Larvae : Bottle Application
- Before Release
- What’s in the Bottle?
- How to Apply
- FAQ
1) Before Release
Before your bugs arrive, it’s always a good idea to water your plants. The bugs will be thirsty after their long trip, and having some moisture on the plants will really help them rehydrate.
Before you apply the beneficials, you should also rinse off the plant or at least wipe the leaves and stems with a damp rag or paper towel. Beneficial bugs are very good at eating prey, but it’s important that we help them out by knocking down pest populations before they even start. You and your bugs are a team!
Plain old water is great – the goal is to remove the pests from the plant! Some people like to use castile soap in addition to water. (Just make sure it is castile soap and not dish soap. Dish soaps, like Dawn, are actually detergents and contain compounds that can damage your leaves.)
Other people like to use diluted rubbing alcohol – just make
sure to wash or wipe it off so it doesn’t dry the plant out.
You can also use soft toothbrushes, small paintbrushes, or makeup brushes to gently sweep everything down— that’s especially helpful for removing eggs if the pest you’re fighting lays them on the leaf surface.
Now we’re ready and the lacewings are here, let’s open up this bottle and offer them a meal!
2) What’s in the lacewing larvae bottle?
The bottle can look a little different depending on the lacewing larvae distributor. But inside the container, you’ll most commonly see a buckwheat husk substrate. That’s what the lacewing larvae crawl around in. It also helps protect them in transit.
Don’t worry if you do not see any larvae at first. You can check on how lively the bottle is by pouring a little bit into the cap or a small bowl. Then you can sift through the substrate until you find a bug.
You may also be able to see the larvae moving around as you apply the substrate to your plant(s). But again, it’s more common not to see them at all! They are very small.
Isn’t he cute? Come on, you think he’s cute.
3) How to apply
This part is super simple!
Before you open the bottle, gently tilt and rotate it a few times to help distribute the lacewing larvae throughout the substrate. The bugs might have settled to the bottom or one of the sides during transport, so this will help you apply everything more evenly to your plants.
Method 1: Go for it
You can pour the substrate directly on the soil and even on the leaves if they’re large enough. Try to pour it evenly around the plant, spreading in increments of half a capful to a full capful, to discourage the larvae from congregating in one spot and eating each other.
After a few days, you can scoop or tip the substrate out of the soil, or you can just leave it there if you prefer – that’s up to you, but it won’t harm your plants.
Method 2: Contain yourself
If you’ve got a hydro or semi-hydro setup, or if you just don’t like the husk substrate in your pots, you can pour the husks into a reusable or disposable container.
Some people like to use paper or silicone cupcake liners, or cut-up silicone ice trays, or the halves of plastic Easter eggs, or just flat paper or mesh screen-door material. As long as there’s a small hole for them to crawl through, or the container’s walls aren’t ridiculously high, the bugs should be able to crawl out just fine, and you can easily dispose of the substrate in a day or two.
Method 3: Strategize
You can find and place the bugs individually. Sift around the substrate with a small tool—a Q-tip, a plastic spoon, an old chopstick, until you find a lacewing larva. Scoop it out and apply it directly to the plant.
This method is great for more targeted release approaches, by strategically placing the lacewing larvae closer to where pests tend to congregate.
FAQ
How much should each plant get?
Each bottle of lacewing larvae usually treats 15-20 six-inch pots.
If you’re treating an active pest issue, start your application on the most affected plant(s) and work outward in semi-circles until you run out of lacewing larvae. You can group affected plants together so the lacewings can roam for more food.
If you’re applying them preventatively, try to distribute them evenly throughout your plant collection to ensure as much coverage as possible.
Will they wander?
Usually, beneficial bugs have a strong preference for staying on plants – it’s where their food, water, and shelter is. So you almost never see them wandering around.
But one exception can be thirsty lacewings. If you find them meandering up a wall or sleeve, it’s probably because the plant needs more water. If your plant is not due for watering, you can also mist it with a spray bottle to offer lacewings a drink.
Ouch! Did he just bite me?
Lacewing larvae are the only predator that sometimes get a little too chummy. When they emerge from the bottle, they are looking for food and water. Try to move quickly when you apply them so they can get to the feast pronto.
Can I wait to apply the bugs?
In general, you should apply the bugs as soon as you can after receiving them, because lacewings can cannibalize each other if they get hungry enough. Hey, we’ve all been there!
download these instructions as .pdf here : Lacewing Larvae Bottle Application
DMV Beneficials
Lacewing Larvae : Hex Cell Application
- Before Release
- What exactly is a hex cell?
- How to Apply
- FAQ
1) Before Release
Before your bugs arrive, it’s always a good idea to water your plants. The bugs will be thirsty after their long trip, and having some moisture on the plants will help them settle in.
Before you apply the beneficials, you should also rinse off the plant or at least wipe the leaves and stems with a damp cloth or paper towel. Beneficial bugs are very good at eating prey, but it’s important that we help them out by knocking down pest populations before they even start. You and your bugs are a team!
Plain old water is great – the goal is to remove the pests from the plant! Some people like to use castile soap in addition to water. (Just make sure it is castile soap and not dish soap. Dish soaps, like Dawn, are actually detergents and contain compounds that can damage your leaves.) Other people like to use diluted rubbing alcohol – just make sure to wash or wipe it off so it doesn’t dry the plant out.
You can also use soft toothbrushes or makeup brushes to wipe everything down – that’s especially helpful for removing sticky eggs if the pest you’re fighting lays the eggs on the leaf surface.
2) What exactly is a hex cell?
The hex cell is square cardboard covered with a film that’s glued on both sides. It will come wrapped in paper packaging. Make sure you hold on to this; more on that in a minute.
You can see a lot of little zig-zags inside – small pieces of cardboard that create cells within the film-and-cardboard sandwich. (Yum.) Inside each cell are lacewing larvae or lacewing larvae eggs – you can hold up the hex cell up to the light to see all of them.
Back to that paper packaging: there may be a lacewing larvae on it as well. You may find one or two larvae were able to crawl out of the hex cell and onto the paper during transit.
The easiest thing to do is just get another piece of paper and scoop the lacewing larvae up. They’re pretty good about sticking onto surfaces, so don’t worry about them falling off. Then place the larvae on whatever plant you would like.
One more thing before you get started: Hex cells can be a bit messier to apply than lacewing larvae in a bottle. Once you start tapping, larvae and dust might not always land exactly where you want.
One option for controlling the chaos is to apply the lacewing larvae to your plants in a bin, tote, box, or bathtub. Leave the plants in the box or bathtub overnight so the larvae can find the plants and settle in.
The hex cell is particularly helpful when you have plants that are crowded together. You can just tap them over the plants instead of targeting each plant at a time.
Okay, let’s dive in!
3) How to Apply
Step 1: Peel
To start, very slowly and very carefully peel back the film that is on the hex cell.
You may encounter a little bit of resistance because of the glue, but just keep working at it. It’s also a lot easier to peel this back when you have the hex cell laying on the ground instead of trying to peel it back in midair. This is where the paper packaging (or bath tub) comes in handy again, in case larvae try to escape while the hex cell is on the ground.
Peel the film back until you open up just a couple of cells. Be careful where you place your fingers on the film because there may be some little lacewing larvae that you don’t want to squish.
Step 2: Tap
Firmly tap the hex cell over the plants you would like to treat.
You can also tap the lacewings out onto a piece of paper and then funnel them onto the plants. But you should still only pull back a couple of cells at a time, because the larvae are pretty active and start crawling off the paper – so you want to get them placed on the plants as quickly as you can.
Another option is tapping the lacewings into a bowl and then individually placing them on the plants. This method may work better for plants that are very tall and need lacewings individually placed.
You’ll probably see a lot of flakes fall out of the hex cell. Those are lacewing larvae eggs. If they’re white, that means the eggs have already hatched. If they’re pale green, that means they haven’t hatched yet.
You may have to tap a few times, so check the inside of the hex cell to see if there are any more lacewing in there and keep tapping until they’re out. Don’t be afraid to tap the thing pretty hard; it’s a great way to take out your frustrations over pests!
Then open it up a bit more and move on to the next plant.
Step 3: Tug or Nudge
Once the hex cell is fairly empty, you often still see lacewing larvae stuck on the film. You can either flick these stragglers off or tug on the film – again, don’t be afraid to put a little muscle into it – to remove them.
Step 4: Leave
Once you’ve released the majority of the lacewing larvae from the hex cell, you can leave it near a couple of plants. There’s guaranteed to be a few lacewing larvae and unhatched eggs in the cells, so they’ll be able to crawl out in the next couple of days.
You can discard the hex cell after about five days.
FAQ
How much should each plant get?
That depends on the extent of your infestation. Each hex cell of 400 lacewing larvae usually treats 40-50 six-inch pots.
If you’re treating an active pest issue, start your application on the most affected plant(s) and work outward in semi-circles until you run out of lacewing larvae. You can group affected plants together so the lacewings can roam for more food.
Will they wander?
Usually, beneficial bugs have a strong preference for staying on plants – it’s where their food, water, and shelter is. So you almost never see them wandering around.
But one exception can be thirsty lacewings. If you find them meandering up a wall or sleeve, it’s probably because the plant needs more water. If your plant is not due for watering, you can also mist it with a spray bottle to offer lacewings a drink.
Ouch! Did it just bite me?
Lacewing Larvae can bite when they are stressed or fearful, and the application process can be agitating them. Once they are released, they are looking for food and water. Try to move quickly when you apply them so they can get to the feast pronto.
Can I wait to apply the bugs?
In general, you should apply the bugs as soon as you can after receiving them, because lacewings can cannibalize each other if they get hungry enough. Hey, we’ve all been there! Luckily, this is less common with the hex cells than with the bottles. In the hex cells, the larvae are separated from each other by those little cardboard cells, whereas in the botles the larvae aren’t separated from each other.
Download .PDF : Lacewing Larvae Hexcell Application
