Killing bugs in my riparium w/ mantis

FishWorks AK · 06-18-2012, 06:52 AM

So I was having problems with little white bugs on my riparium plants. I was thinking about lady bugs, but they would get out and or drown. I went to the local greenhouse and they said to try praying mantises.

Has anyone tried them???

driftwoodhunter · 06-18-2012, 11:28 AM

Praying Mantis are staples of my garden - my OUTside garden. They are a flying insect and mine get 6" + in size...one thing is that they lay their eggs in a brown papery looking case, it looks just like a miniature paper wasp nest. That would make it easier for you to find all the egg cases they will lay in your house...lol

AirstoND · 06-19-2012, 01:30 AM

Anyone know where and what times I could find them (and ladybugs) in Jersey?

hydrophyte · 06-19-2012, 02:37 AM

Are they mealybugs? If they are I think the mantis probably won't eat them. Mealybugs are tough to kill off. I had them in a riparium once and the only way that I could get rid of them was to just go through the whole planting every couple of days and squash every one that I could find with a pin. I did that for a couple of months and finally wiped them all out.

**gordonrichards** · 06-19-2012, 04:08 AM

You could house the mantis sure. When they get larger you can place them outdoors.

They do require a good amount of space.

I would suggest spiders. Common house spiders are my friends :^)

I have some colonies of small spiders living in three of my emersed tanks.

-Gordon

-Gordon

FishWorks AK · 06-19-2012, 06:01 AM

No they are not mealybugs, they are much smaller and have longs legs and antennas

FishWorks AK · 06-19-2012, 06:09 AM

yea I figure I will let them do there jobs and then take the majority of them out. I figure the area is 7' long x 2' deep x 3' tall. I think it should support a few.

06-18-2012, 06:52 AM	#1
FishWorks AK Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 8	Killing bugs in my riparium w/ mantis So I was having problems with little white bugs on my riparium plants. I was thinking about lady bugs, but they would get out and or drown. I went to the local greenhouse and they said to try praying mantises. Has anyone tried them???

06-18-2012, 11:28 AM	#2
driftwoodhunter Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (23/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Christiansburg, Va Posts: 2,758	Praying Mantis are staples of my garden - my OUTside garden. They are a flying insect and mine get 6" + in size...one thing is that they lay their eggs in a brown papery looking case, it looks just like a miniature paper wasp nest. That would make it easier for you to find all the egg cases they will lay in your house...lol __________________ *The Fraternity of Dirt # 7* **- Daughter of the Dirt - Canon Club #018 Twin 29g Dirt Tanks on an Iron Stand - DIY 3D Backgrounds http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...stand-pic.html The Behemoth - 125 dirt tank** http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=199772

06-19-2012, 02:37 AM	#4
hydrophyte Sponsor (View User Tanks) PTrader: (122/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 9,155	Are they mealybugs? If they are I think the mantis probably won't eat them. Mealybugs are tough to kill off. I had them in a riparium once and the only way that I could get rid of them was to just go through the whole planting every couple of days and squash every one that I could find with a pin. I did that for a couple of months and finally wiped them all out. __________________ hydrophyte Visit the Riparium Supply vendor forum!

06-19-2012, 04:08 AM	#5
gordonrichards Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (299/99%) Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Huntington Station, NY Posts: 4,422	You could house the mantis sure. When they get larger you can place them outdoors. They do require a good amount of space. I would suggest spiders. Common house spiders are my friends :^) I have some colonies of small spiders living in three of my emersed tanks. -Gordon -Gordon __________________ Planted Tank Guru

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06-19-2012, 01:30 AM	#3
AirstoND Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 1,189	Anyone know where and what times I could find them (and ladybugs) in Jersey?

06-19-2012, 06:01 AM	#6
FishWorks AK Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 8	No they are not mealybugs, they are much smaller and have longs legs and antennas

06-19-2012, 06:09 AM	#7
FishWorks AK Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 8	yea I figure I will let them do there jobs and then take the majority of them out. I figure the area is 7' long x 2' deep x 3' tall. I think it should support a few.