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Mysterious white bugs killing our pansies! Pictures!

12 years ago

We're new to gardening, and live in an apartment so we're restricted to our cute little window garden. Our herbs and bonsai trees are thriving, but our pansies are under attack!

One, we're worried about them spreading to our herbs (but they don't seem interested). Two, are our pansies doomed? They seem to be collecting behind the heads of new flower buds and sucking them dry. The whole plant isn't gone yet, but a few flowers are wilted. We only noticed them a few days ago.

Help! How can we get rid of these buggers? We'd like to avoid anything toxic, as the pansies are sharing the space (but not soil) with herbs we intend to use in cooking.

Thank you!!

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Comments (3)

jean001a
12 years ago
Aphids. They come in other colors, too. When you see them, immediately squish or wash off.
Kimmsr
12 years ago
A swharp spray of water will knock the Aphids off the plants. A pump sprayer can be used if your garden hose water pressure is high and can damage the plants foliage.

Here is a link that might be useful: About Aphids
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COuld be anything at that stage, they're usually white because they haven't developed thier outer membrane shells. But it could be anything. Termites maybe? I have a bug book so post a close up and I'll get on trying to ID it for you. Otherwise, use pesticides as a last resort. Know anyone who smokes? Take cigarette butts( 15 or so) or three fresh cigarettes and break them up and soak them in a couple gallons of water( in the sun for a couple days) then, pour into the earth. But before you pour the nicotine, pour gallons of water with 5 or so drops of dishwasher soap into the soil and let it sit. The soap will break the membranes and kill the eggs/younglings, and the nicotine will finish the job. ( This method is safe and organic.
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The last photo you posted is DEFINITELY an aphid. A little soap solution will take care of the aphids on the plants, BUT it will not stop the ants from bringing MORE! Ants do in fact, "farm" aphids for a sugary "dew"-like substance they secrete. So, the ants put the aphids in places to feed, and then they are able to feed off the aphids. I suggest you do something to get rid of the ants, and then you can successfully battle the aphids. If not, the aphids will just keep coming. Ladybugs, especially their larvae, love aphids! But, they won't do much for the ants. Sticky traps will stop the ants, but also any other insects that come across it. A suggest a bait trap. The type that ants can take back to their nest would be ideal. You would eliminate only the ants that are "farming" the aphids, and then you can deal with the remaining aphid problem successfully. Good luck!
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Get some mimosa flowers and put them next to it. That will repel most beetles. Without a picture, I'm just trying to guess what it is killing your tomato plants, but it sounds like some sort of beetle. Most of the bugs in the world are in the beetle family, so you can never go wrong by guessing beetle. :) DE is absolutely terrible to use on open-pollinated plants. I wish I could convince people to stop using it as their "go to" solution. Walking around bugs just get it on their feet so it doesn't hurt them much at all, but wallowing bugs (like pollinating bees) get it all over them and then they die. You're much better off if you can figure out non-chemical methods of protecting your plants. Sometimes it's a companion plant, and sometimes it's a change of gardening methods.
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SeanX35X
12 years ago
I don't use any oils or pesticides for insect control as I grow organically. google Arbico. they specialize in beneficial insects. I ordered three praying manti egg cases. one for my yard and for my neighbors on both sides. one egg case hatches abou two hundred manti. They devour every insect you hate. and once they live out their life cycle they lay their own egg cases. so now I have an ongoing population of manti. I live an hour north of death Valley so its a desrt hot blazing summers freezing winters if my manti can stay alive year after year your area will support them as well. also consider Ladybugs these are literalyy the toughest bug in the pack they eat every single pest bug you can imagine problem is when they eat everything they move on to find more food. I even take my baby manti indoors to work over my bonsai and houseplants I leave a couple of windows open all the time for my cats to get in and out. so manti have an escape, or entrance if they choose. I grow vegetables, tobacco, fruit, housplants and bonsai. this was a permanent and inexpensive solution to my bug problem. Good Luck!!!!

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