Help w/ ants and aphids
txchristie
16 years ago
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Heathen1
16 years agotxchristie
16 years agoRelated Discussions
ants, aphids and jalapenos
Comments (3)I'd remove all of the aphids by hand (squishing) or strong sprays of water. They multiply extremely rapidly, joe. Don't be led on by their small numbers right now. Ants are not your helpers against the aphids. They're actually protecting them, in a ritualistic relationship that benefits both insects. The aphids produce an abundance of sweet excretions, and the ants keep away anything that might harm the the aphids, in return. The ants might even try to sting you, when you take a few minutes to squish....See MorePlease help ID: Aphids, bumps, tubors? (w/ pretty pictures)
Comments (8)Rhizo, Thanks. From what I just read, it sounds like the mites are harmless so I won't worry about them and the galls. Any idea what the little green horns are in the 4th picture? Since I missed the dormant application this past winter, do you think a summer application would help to cut down the aphids and reduce the Sooty Mold that is just now starting up? Bonide also claims (via their support line) that the neem oil will help wash away the mold and acts as a natural fungicide. Anyone have any experience with these claims? Regarding the warning labels, I think the oil is the most toxic: Bonide Horticultural Oil RTU: Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Do not get in eyes, on skin or on clothing. Avoid breathing spray mist. In case of contact, wash immediately with soap and warm water. Wash hands, arms, and face thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling. Wash all contaminated clothing with soap and hot water before re-use. Boneem: RTU Hazards to humans and domestic animals CAUTION - Causes moderate eye and skin irritation. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. Insecticidal Soap: No real warnings for humans...See MoreAphids and ants, ants and aphids!
Comments (2)Hi Julie! As you already know, it is very hard to keep aphids off of all organically raised leaf crops because you can't spray with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or superfine dormant oil. I've never tried spraying lettuce with a homemade garlic or pepper spray as I assume the garlic/pepper spray would ruin the lettuce for human consumption. I'm not sure there is much you can do at this point, but there are a couple of things you can do 'next time'. Predatory insects are your best bet, but they won't show up until you have a large aphid population to attract them and by then it is probably too late to save the current crop. Next year, or in the fall if you grow fall lettuce, you could try releasing beneficial insects like lady bugs, aphid midges, green lacewings or parasitic wasps. The timing is tricky, though, as you have to release them before the aphids get out of hand, but you can't release them too early or they won't have anything to eat and they'll leave. You can also plant pollen and nectar plants near your lettuce and they will help attract the beneficial insects. Spraying with a stream of water works temporarily, but must be repeated daily. Since aphids carry viral diseases that they transmit to the plants as they feed, you can still have plant damage even if you are spraying with water daily. Some people have had success with mulching their leaf crop beds with a silvery reflective mulch. In the 'old days' they did this by laying down aluminum foil as a mulch around their plants. Some people used to buy that building construction paper that has brown paper on one size and shiny foil on the other. Nowadays you can buy a silver mulch from companies like Territorial Seed. That might be an option for future years. Plants fed excess nitrogen tend to be more attractive to aphids, but since you garden organically, I can't imagine your plants have been fed an excess of nitrogen. You also can keep aphids off your leaf crops by raising them under floating row covers that are well anchored so aphids cannot find a way under the row covers. That's about all I can think of right now. Dawn...See MoreAnts w/ aphid eggs in soil?
Comments (6)ants MILK aphids for honeydew.. on the leaves.. not in the soil ... [and actually.. they sweat it.. and the ants eat it .. its a sugar source meaning they really dont have little milking stools..e tc.. lol] the words used also also include herding ... i am sure.. you probably also saw farming them.. but no.. they dont plant them in the ground... lol in fact.. ants.. are how i usually find aphid infested plants ... when i notice a plethora of marchers going up and down plants ... if you disturb an any colony ... and presuming you dont have any of the southern bad ants... they will be gone in hours... and you move on with life... when i run across this.. i just do a little more disturbing.. and come back in a day or two.. and finish whatever i was trying to accomplish ... its not really a situation.. where i feel i need to eradicate them ... [unless they are coming in the house.. then its all out warfare ....] ken...See Moredigdirt2
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