We have selected the following demonstrations to give you hands-on experience with each of the different types of natural enemies that exist. Once you have registered with us, you will be able to download the text for the demonstrations and some additional information. Click here to register with us.

Note: Always asked the supplier advice concerning the care of the natural enemies, you purchase.

Lacewing Demonstration (Generalist predator)

Trichogramma Demonstration (Parasitic wasp)

Encarsia Demonstration (Parasitic wasp)

Beneficial Parasitic Nematodes Demonstration (Insect disease)

Amblysieus cucumeris Demonstration (Predatory mite)

Rhyzobius lopanthae Demonstration (Specialist predator on scale insects)

Lady beetle experiment

Lacewing (Generalist Predators)

Objective:
1) To help you identify the lacewing larvae and adults which are important predators in the garden.

2) To show how fast predators move around.

Materials needed for lacewing demonstration:

- 2 microscopes if available (if not, 3 10x-hand lens )

- If you are using a microscope to look at the lacewings, use a covered Petri dish. If you are using hand lenses, use 3 clear glass jars for viewing lacewings.

- 50 or more lacewing eggs. Let half hatch at room temperature. Save the other half in the refrigerator.

Place the insects in separate and clear vials for the participants to appreciate them and to limit damage to the specimens. Use hand lenses or microscopes to see eggs and larvae. The lacewing adults can be easily seen with the naked eyes. Consider placing lacewing larvae on a houseplant that is infested with aphids. This could create an opportunity for gardeners to see lacewing eating pests.

For more information on lacewings, click on this photo:

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Encarsia formosa (Parasitic wasp)

Objective:
1) To find out how many Encarsia wasps emerge per card.

Materials needed for Encarsia demonstration:

- 500 Encarsia formosa

- 1 10x-hand lens or a microscope if available

- 1 transparent plastic bag

The Encarsia are shipped inside parasitized whitefly pupae. The parasitized pupae are dark in color. Look for little escape holes on the parasitized pupae from which wasps have emerged. The Encarsia can be incubated at room temperature in a transparent plastic bag to collect adult wasps. The emerged adult wasps are tiny, but they are easily visible with a hand lens. Adult wasps that are visible with a hand lens.

For more information about Encarsia formosa, click on the photo:

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Trichogramma (Egg parasitoids)

Objective:
1) To demonstrate how small parasitoids can be.

Materials needed for Trichogramma demonstration:

- 500 or more Trichogramma wasps

- 1 transparent plastic bag

- 1 10x-hand lens

Upon receipt, make an opening in the package and place it in a transparent plastic bag, and seal. The Trichogramma will emerge and fly within the bag. You will be able to see the wasp with a hand lens.

For more information on Trichogramma, click on the photo:

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Amblysieus cucumeris or Phytoseiulus persimilis (Predatory mites)

Objective:
1) To demonstrate that predaceous mites run faster than pest mites. Pest mites tend to stay immobile for long periods and move slowly.

Materials needed for Amblysieus or Phytoseiulus demonstration:

- 50 predatory mites

- 1 microscope

- 1 Petri dish

The mites are packed with filler, to keep them from eating each other. Gently shake the container with the mites, pour one tablespoon of the mixture in a Petri dish and cover. Place the Petri dish under the microscope. It is impossible to see the mites with bare eyes or a hand lens. You should see the mites crawling around under the microscope.

For more information on Amblyseius cucumeris, click on the photo:

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Beneficial Parasitic Nematodes

Objective:
1) To determine if nematodes in a shipment are alive.

Materials needed for nematode demonstration:

- 5 millions nematodes

- 1 microscope

- 1 Petri dish

- Water at room temperature

- Pair of scissors

Nematodes come usually on a wet sponge. Cut a 1/2 inch square piece of the sponge, and place it in a Petri dish containing water. You may need to dilute the solution to be able to see the nematodes. Live nematodes will wiggle as they swim through the water. Only live nematodes can kill pests.

For more information on nematodes, click on the photo:

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Rhyzobius (Lindorus) lopanthae (Predatory of scale insects)

Objective:
1) To demonstrate that adult beetles can eat scale insects.

Materials needed for Rhyzobius demonstration:

- 1 Mason jar or a clear container for observation

- 25 or more Rhyzobius

- 2 10x hand lenses

- Plants covered with scale insects. For information on where you can collect scales for this demonstration click here.

Place the Rhyzobius in 1 Mason jar with a squash or plant infested with scales. Use a hand lens to watch beetles feed. Consider putting some beetles on an aphid infested plant to see if they eat aphids.

For more information on Rhyzobius, click on the photo:

For information on where you can collect scales for this demonstration click here.

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Lady beetle experiment

Objective: The purpose of the experiment is to determine if lady beetles are attracted to other resources besides insects.

What you will need

- Aquarium or any clear container

- 3 tablespoons of table sugar diluted in a cup of water

- 2 sponges: one soaked with the sugar-water solution the other one with water

- 50 live lady beetles

What you will do

1. Place the sponge with water at one end of the aquarium.
2. Place the sponge soaked with sugar-water at the opposite end. Be sure not to let the sugar solution drip all over the aquarium.
3. Release several lady beetles in the middle of the container (There is an illustration in the Instructor's Manual). Replace the lid and observe where the beetles are 1 minute, 10 minutes and 1 hour later.

For more information about the different types of lady beetles visit:
<http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/ladybintro.html>

Discussion tips

1. Why would beetles be attracted to the sponge soaked with sugar-water? They are attracted to the energy they get from the sugar.
2. Why would beetles be attracted to the sponge soaked with water? They are thirsty. They might have been in storage for a couple of months.
3. Why do beetles stay on the sugar-water? They are hungry and they have a sweet tooth.
4. How could you use this information to encourage lady beetles in your garden? Spraying your plants with sugar-water can attract beetles to your plantings.

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