Lady Birds and lacewings

[jnkimjones]

I would like to encourage ladybirds and Lacewings to my allotment.

I'm getting my boyfriends father to make me a home for them (he doen't know yet). I would like to know the richest pollen plants I can plant to welcome them.

Any advice is well received

[roitelet]

As far as I know it is not the pollen that they need but the Aphids for the lavae to eat.

I would be inclined to provide as many insect houses as possible for them to encourage them to hibernate and then in the spring they will come out and lay their eggs

Best of luck

[jnkimjones]

Thanks! I would like to get some high pollen plants for the rest of the wildlife...any ideas?

[Cloud]

Well here goes!Nicotina for moths ect which attract Bats.Calendula which attract hoverflies.Buddliea,sedum,verbena to attract butterflies.Sunflowers which attract all kinds and the seed heads feed birds through the winter,there loads more but hope this helps.

[lynda66]

there are some good tips on the springwatch site, i got a dvd off them last year, gardening for wildlife, but i can't seem to find if they are doing it this year

BBC - Springwatch - Features

[Tam]

Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden for Natural Pest Control (Garden Insectary)

This is another good starting point as it will lead you to other sites.

[Two_Sheds]

You can't go wrong with Limnanthes Douglasii - absolutely superb for hoverflies (their larvae eat aphids).
Also Calendula (English or Pot Marigold). Lacewings are nocturnal, so Nicotiana or Evening Primrose might be good for the adults (the larvae eat loads of aphids).