good bugs?

[whiskyrebellion]

i used to have alot of lady bugs around here but havent seen any for a few years. i quit using pesticide years ago but the neighbors probably still do. local greenhouse has praying mantis and ladybugs for sale. questions are 1. should i see ladybugs flying around if i have enough? 2. would praying mantis be good for wooded areas to help with flies or ticks and that kind of stuff? 3. what would be good for ticks? 4. what are the best good bug attractors and bad bug repelers? 5. are there other bugs that arent as well known that i should look into?
thanks in advance.

[zbx]

i have heard that guinea hens will eat ticks and supposedly are effective at clearing areas of ticks.

i wouldn't buy praying mantids because they eat both good and bad bugs.

re: ladybugs, rather than buy the ladybugs themselves as they will apparently just fly off if you don't have decent habitat for them, i would buy the "good bug blend" cover crop mix from Peaceful Valley Farm supply. the flowering plants in that mix will attract beneficial insects to the area.

if you go to the Arbico Organics site they should have a lot of info on beneficial insects. they cost quite a bit to buy though so again i think youre better off growing some good habitat for them.