Weather: Rain! And pretty windy as well.
 
Carolyn was away sick today. First thing in the morning me and Keely delivered compost tea to Joyce. Keely then had to go to do trailer backing training so I worked on the greenwall beneficials project. Here is an excerpt:
 
Green wall size: 4072 ft2, 378m2
Expected pests
 Spidermites
 Aphids
 Mealybug
 Thrips
 Whitefly

Biological controls of:

Spidermites

Neoseiulus californicus (Syn Amblyseius californicus), Cali Predatory Mite.
o Opitmum temperatures 55-105 oF. Goes into diapause in less than 11 hours sunlight.
o Sterling recommends release of 2500-5000 mites per acre at first sign of spidermites. Therefore the rate for the green wall is 233-467 mites. Biobest recommends preventitive 1-2mites /m2 (378-756 mites for the greenwall) every 2-3 weeks.
• Available from Sterling Insectary
 The minimum order is 5000 mites @ $65
• Available from Biobest (as Amblyseius californicus)
 Available per 2000 mites (nymphs and adults) in 250ml bottle.
• Available from Syngenta
 Available per 2000 mites in 100ml bottle.

Galendromus occidentalis, Western Predatory Mite.
o Optimum temperatures 60-120oF. Goes into diapause in less than 11 hours sunlight.
o Sterling recommends Release at 2500-5000 mites per acre at first sign of spidermites. Therefore the rate for the green wall is 233-467 mites.
• Available from Sterling Insectary
 The minimum order is 5000 mites @ $65

Thrips

Orius spp, minute pirate bug.
o Do best in temperatures above 59oF and 60% humidity.
o They can be introduced preventatively if a food source (pollen or prey) is present, at a rate of 1-2 per m2. Therefore the amount needed for the greenwall is 378-756 bugs.
 Available from Biobest
• Available per 500 or 1000 in a bottle.
 Available from Syngenta

Once the project is complete I will upload a copy. Most of the information (for example application rates) is coming from the company websites. biobest, syngenta-bioline, sterling insectary, insectary.com/lw/lacewing, beckerunderwood.com, bioworksinc

In the afternoon Me and Keely made more compost tea, and then finished taking photos of the Poinsettias. For the last hour of the day I did the project and looked up info on several pests in this excellent book (Pests and Disease of herbaceous perennials). I specifically looked up Scale (Coccids) and Mealy (Psuedococcids), as Joyce had stopped by earlier and quizzed me on the three most common mealybugs at Longwood (Longtailed, Citrus and Madeira). Interesting fact of the day. The biological control of Mealy bug Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealy lady bug, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) is not as effective a preventative control against Longtailed mealybug as against other species. This is due to the fact that unlike other species of mealy, Longtailed Mealy give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Cryptolaemus requires mealy eggs to prompt it to lay its own eggs, which it lays in a mass of mealy eggs. This therefore means that control of Longtailed Mealy with Cryptolaemus will require subsequent reintroductions.