Yesterday, I was in a large nursery/garden store and was talking to one of the employees. I noticed some boxes of beneficial insects--lacewings, ladybugs, mantids and then Trichogramma. I told him I approve of all of the biological controls except the Tricho's because I explained to him that while the label says "to control hornworms," I explained it does not stop with them and most likely will affect many benign butterflies and moths, some of which are really very useful as pollinators. I told him ALL hornworms, including the beneficial white-lined sphinx that eats weeds and all of the beautiful saturniid moths like the Luna and Cecropia are particularly sensitive to parasites.
I picked up a can of dipel dust. It has a big tomato worm on the label. I told him that was basically propaganda to make everyone think as soon as they see just one big caterpillar....they have to rush to the store and buy a chemical to kill it. Still, I told him dipel was very good for those who truly can't stand to have just one big hairy hornworm on their plants. Dipel will only affect what attacks that tomato or other plant, but not infest the entire insect community with a spreading, reproducing, indiscriminate parasite or disease. I told him flat out Trichogramma should be outlawed in the name of ecology! He listened while I talked a few minutes about the monarchs and unique butterflies of the southeast found in Oklahoma.
Most of these nurseries and garden stores are now catching on to the desires of more people to create butterfly-friendly yards and gardens. Wholesale insecticides are fast going out of fashion. Let's also be aware of the wholesale bio control parasites and talk to the owners or managers of the stores about our concerns, while promoting the alternatives. They will listen!