Ladybird and Lacewing Larvae

[Hammer]

Has anyone tried Ladybird or Lacewing Houses (Chambers) where you get the Chamber and a supply of Larvae to hatch them out yourself - as your very own Pest Control army for aphids, greenfly etc.
I have a Beech hedge riddled with Aphids which am about to start spraying and i am thinking of getting one of these kits (online) as a long term solution.

Any help appreciated

Hammer

[Ever Green]

It sounds like a great idea, but, adult Lacewings eat pollen and nectar from flowers and honeydew. It’s only the larva that eat the aphids. So, if you buy just a few larva or eggs, they will eat a few aphids and then presumably turn into adults. At which point they will fly off to the nearest flowers (which aren’t gonna be on your beech trees) in your neighbours garden to eat, get laid and then lay eggs next door ha ha…
I don’ t know really. I read about these before but I thought that if they don’t have the exact environment for their total life cycle they will just go off and find it. Ladybiirds might work though cos the adults eat aphids as well.
I just use neem oil for everything.

[Hammer]

Hello Ever Green,
Thanks for the tip, i did,nt know that, i,ll have to rethink that idea.
Regards Hammer

[Ever Green]

Hello Hammer. Just my musing. I researched them online some time ago. The ladybirds might be a better choice. October- February: Adult ladybirds spend winter in a dormant state, known as 'overwintering'. Hopefully in your ladybird houses.
March- April: Adult ladybirds become active and leave their overwintering sites to find food, aphids (greenfly) all around your beech trees.
May: Male and female ladybirds mate. Oo er misses!
June- July: Mated females lay eggs. Larvae feed on aphids and then form 'pupae'.
August: The new generation of adult ladybirds emerge from the pupae.
September: These new adults feed but do not mate until next spring after they have overwintered.
Google is a wonderful tool for the gardener. I read some of your posts Hammer. You seem like an interesting guy.
Regards
Ever Green