This year I installed netting that was supposed to protect my plants from insects. However, what's happening is that although I've largely excluded pieris rapae, I'm getting largely uncontrolled aphid growth. The mesh is likely excluding lady birds, and possibly some predator wasps though I do see some aphids that have been parasitized. Snails, and wetas seem to be able to climb under the net.
I have found some lady birds sitting on the mesh trying to get in, and I've picked them off and put them inside.
If I go to a smaller mesh size to try and keep aphids out I think this will produce too much lowering of the light intensity, and ventilation.
And my Brussels sprouts are now over 6 feet tall pulling the mesh upwards creating gaps at the bottom indicating that small hoops with mesh don't work for them.
So, what's the best balance?