RResidents in Japan

Buying beneficial bugs for garden pests…

I recently moved to Tokyo, and I’ve gotten good amount of plants to care for. I’m researching pest control methods (for maintenence mostly, the pests I do have I’m managing okay with soapy water), and I’m looking for how to buy beneficial insects… Prior to moving here, I preferred manual removal/using bugs over chemical sprays, but here I have no clue where to find ladybugs or anything similar if my bug problems get worse. Recommendations?

5 comments

  1. What kind of environment do you have your plants in? If your environment is somewhat a closed system then you could get beneficial bugs to keep pests away. I can’t really recommend it though as yes, they will run away and will die if you don’t actually have pests in your plants for them to feed on.

    If you don’t mind the smell, diluting and emulsifying Neem oil into water to use as a spray will keep pests away. It slows their metabolism and can keep them from reproducing. It is natural and doesn’t affect beneficial bugs! Apply once a week!

    Btw, there is a sub called gardeners Japan if you haven’t yet joined!

  3. Start a worm farm, aside from the amazing nutrient benefits, the worm wee is great at clearing out a lot of pests. Dilute with water and pop it in a spray bottle.

  5. Biopesticide regulation is nuts here, couldn’t find anyone willing to sell beneficial insects to someone who wasn’t a professional farmer in a greenhouse setting.
    It’s not really bug season now, but in early summer, you’ll be able to go out to any area with yomogi/mugwort and find ladybug larvae you can catch and put on your plants. Likewise for young mantises.
    For fungus gnat control, I did manage to Amazon-order some Bacillus thuringiensis to make a soil drench for my veranda plants, customs left it alone.

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