Guarding the garden - Features

If you walk into your garden and feel that the hungry caterpillar from Eric Carle's storybook has paid a visit, pest control might be in order.

[Buggah]

Does anyone know of anyplace in Hawaii that sells ladybugs? I think there are places on the mainland that sell beneficial insects, but never heard of anything over here.

Maybe a good small biz idea. Perhaps the worm guys could add that to their inventory.

[Buggah]

Forgot to mention - praying mantises would be another good candidate.

[Xie Xie]

Beer in a shallow pan will attract slugs and drown them.

[okipake]

What about marigolds? Do they keep away some insects?

[cathy29]

Xie Xie wrote:

Beer in a shallow pan will attract slugs and drown them.

is this true? will it really help?

[Sluggo]

cathy29 wrote:

<quoted text>
is this true? will it really help?

True. And if they don't drown, they'll be too hung over to eat any of your veggies.

Nah, it is true, though. Probably better the easier it is for the slugs and snails to crawl in - i.e., think about making it as easy as possible for them to crawl in.