Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Put a HIPPO in Your Garden!

Put a HIPPO in Your Garden!

When pest insects attack crops, many plants release chemicals that signal to beneficial insect that lunch is nearby.  One of the more common HIPPOs - Herbivore Induced Plat Protection Odors - is Methyl salicylate, aka oil of wintergreen.  Numerous studies have confirmed that oil of wintergreen attracts a variety of beneficial insects, including ladybugs, lace wings, minute pirate bugs and aphid eating hover flies.  Although available commercially, a DIY approach would be soaking cotton balls in the oil of wintergreen and placing them in the garden inside an empty cottage cheese container with perforated lid. 

http://www.danvillegardens.com/

Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

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