I am not sure if this is the thread to discuss this, but i was reading about the PM and Hummers and I just love Hummers and have none this year. I am so sad about that. I wish there was some way to hatch them, I would surely give it a try since I was breeding birds for years.

Has anyone ever tried using lady bugs to help eat up their little critters in the house or Greenhouse?

I have used them for a long time and the last time I bought them I purchased 1500. They were cold and it was winter when I got them so as soon as I turned them loose in the GH they were little wild creatures. What fun it was to see them all get flying around. I do love ladybugs anyhow and I even turned a few loose in the house because I have some of my old stock plants plus the young stock plants in the house as houseplants. About three or four days after they were all settled in we had a BLIZZARD. Yes, a blizzard, first one in years. One side panel blew out of the GH and before we could get it back on, many of my little darlings were gone. After the weather settled and we were back in business I would go to the GH and look for my bugs. I swear I did not have ten of them left. I had the ones in the house, but the GH flock, herd, or whatever ladybugs come in, were gone. I have never purchased them again because I was afraid we would have another blizzard.

As far as other bugs go, our barn swallows really keep the place almost bugless.(is that a word?)
But, on the other hand, along with the good comes the bad. Bird Poop is a mess, vehicles in the barn need to be washed weekly, etc. Did you know a bird poops every 15 seconds?

Enough of this, I just wanted to give you something to smile about today. It is a bit gloomy here, very hot and humid and stormy. Have a great day.

Oh, poor little ladybugs! Hmmm, maybe I should get some for my back porch for the winter. I always end up with plants back there, and I ALWAYS say "never again!" because I ALWAYS end up with aphids and/or whiteflies.

We have barn swallows, too. One has made a nest in the peak of the roof, above the balcony outside the bedroom. If they eat wasps and yellowjackets, they are welcome to stay! We had one fly into the house at our place back in OR; they had a nest right above the back door and when we opened the door one of the little ones flew in. Poor little thing was terrified! We managed to catch it quickly and put it outside, so it was ok. They really are beautiful little birds. It was neat to actually hold one for a few moments.

We have loads and loads and loads of hummingbirds. Loads. I've been having quite a few hover in front of the window and glare .... glare!! How dare I not have a feeder for them. (Need a new one.)

I hope these fellas take down the leaf hoppers though.

Seriously, my daughter thinks I am crazy but the ladybugs nest in the bird/plant room in the corner of the ceiling. I have not had white flies or mites since I have them in the house. Once in awhile they will get into the bug catcher (use for sour flies when needed in bird room) but seldom. They keep things in there really clean. Except for Mealy Bug....that is my biggest problem with gardenias and jasmine.
I just take the plants outside and put the hose on them when the weather permits and if not in the shower or sink they go. Then I spray them with neems and dawn mix. I seldom get them in the house in the summer because the plants they like are on the deck.
We had a bumper crop of those ugly bugs that look like outer space bugs. I forget what they are called but I had to have Ehrlich come an extra time and spray. They were everywhere. For the life of me I can not think of their names. They are dark brown or black and ugly. They love dampness. Oh God I hate being old. Takes me twice as long sometimes to think of names of things.

Earwigs................took me awhile but I remembered what those ugly bugs were.

JB I hate earwigs. I'm talking 'stand on a chair screaming KILL IT! KILL IT!' hate. I'm trained one of my cats to do so. The other is usually on the chair with me.

They remind me of aliens.

Every time I open the trash can, it rains those little nasties! YUCK!

They will get into your plants if you are not careful. The exterminator sprayed my greenhouse for them. They were making a home in every damp dark area. They are gone now but they had to spray around the house everywhere this year. It was the worst year the exterminator has seen in a long time for those aliens.

I have to spray my big Gardenia Trees when I bring them in to be sure they are not on the bottom of the pots and in the pots. It is almost time to do that again. How time flies.