AT A GLANCE
What insects does ivy attract?
Especially in autumn, when the ivy is in bloom, a large number of nectar-seeking insects down on the creeping growth with the dense foliage. Also found there insect pests, which on the other hand useful insects serve as an important source of food.
What insects visit ivy flowers?
Above all honey bees, but also wild bees, bumblebees, Hoverflies, wasps, and bugs butterflies like the magnificent admiral, the peacock butterfly or the small tortoiseshell feast on the ivy blossoms.
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These open from September until December and thus enrich the insects' diet exactly when many other plants have already withered.
Why do these beneficial insects love ivy flowers so much?
The yellow-green ones umbels, those in abundance in the fall from the age form of the ivy are formed, delivery the animals plenty of nectar and pollen.
- The nectar of the climbing plant has an extremely high glucose content and is therefore extremely nutritious.
- The protein-rich pollen of Honey bees collect ivy as food for their brood. They salivate the pollen and store it in the honeycomb cells, which are covered with a thin layer of propolis.
What harmful insects attack the ivy?
Occasionally nest on the ivy Harmful insects such as shield, smear or Mealybug, spider mites,grubs or the larvae of the vine weevil.
It is true that Hedera helix has effective protective mechanisms and can defend itself against pests. However, if these get the upper hand, you can severely weaken the otherwise robust ivy.
How can I protect the ivy from these insects?
Before the infestation with harmful insects no plant is safe. You can, the uninvited, on the ivy living guests, however, successfully fight it with ecologically compatible means.
- For example, spraying with diluted neem oil, rapeseed oil or a soft soap and spirit solution has proven itself.
- Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps,(€33.00 at Amazon*) Lacewings, earwigs, gall midges and birds will help you to drive away pests. Provide an environmentally friendly garden with suitable shelters for the settlement of beneficial insects.
Tip
Insects in the ivy are the food source for other animals
Only in a few plants can the cycle of nature be observed as well as in an ivy. The insects that live here as plant parasites are the basis of life for hunting crawling animals such as spiders. At the same time, these, like the nutritious berries of ivy, enrich the diet of birds and other small animals nesting in the climbing plant.
