Aphids? Can you get a closer shot? :)

I will try later when I get home. I was trying to get a crisp shot and was not successful! They were moving ever so slightly and like I said above, ants were on the bugs.

Aphids.

What can I use to get rid of them. I heard some dishwashing liquid (a few drops) in water and then spray. I haven't tried yet. I hope that works. Any other suggestions? I need organic suggestions though since I have tomatoes growing near the nasturtiums. The tomatoes have different looking bugs on the underside of leaves - they look like tiny bright green little bugs. I tried baking soda and water - it worked, no more bugs on the tomatoes, but I must have used too much and used it at the wrong time of day, since the tomato leaves turned light brown. So, again any other organic bug killer suggestions would be great. Thanks all!

Use sharp streams of water from the hose and your fingers. Dishsoap is not organic and can also harm your plants.

I suggest that you use plain water from now on.....you can't harm your plants that way!

Thank you Rhizo. Gardengal, how interesting is that?! I have a list of pest-repelling plants, and nasturtiums are among them and the list stated that they repel aphids-that is why I planted them. Not sure why they call it pest-repelling...after seeing them congregate and after reading your comment it seems they're more pest luring and are definitely a "trap"!

A sharp stream of water, from a hand held spray bottle, will knock the wee buggers off those plants, and with less trouble than a stream of water from the garden hose. Since Aphids produce live young you most likely will see the next generation appear shortly after dispatching those there now. The ones you knock off will not return as some think.

Nasturtiums are often planted as a trap crop for a number of garden pests, they seem to be insect magnets rather than repellents.

kimmq is kimmsr

Thank you kimmq. One other person above suggested leaving them there. I am not sure yet what to do. Anyhow, I forgot to ask, if I do leave them there what kind of damage do they do to the nasturtium? I am tempted to leave them there, but it bugs me sort of to see that big clump on those beautiful plants.

Summerlee, an aphid infestation allowed to develop unchecked can ruin your nasturtiums. As your plants shrivel up and turn yellow, the aphids respond by producing a few generations of winged females who will flit off to other, more snack worthy plants in your garden.

I'd suggest that you maintain a low level of aphids on your nasturiums, getting after them periodically with plain water. That way, they can serve their purpose as a trap crop.

Unfortunately, nasties are also a favorite of dreaded spider mites. The combination of those two pests are the reason why I don't grow nasturtiums at all. I miss them.

I may try some early next spring as a short term salad crop, then yank them before the aphids and mites become a problem. They are so tasty!

Thank you very much, Rhizo. I will maintain that low level! I absolutely love these plants - the round leaves are so gorgeous. I have several varieties - some have huge leaves. They are tasty. I've put the leaves and flowers in salads. Short term is a good idea - I noticed that these plants were absolutely bug free for at least a month and a half. Annoying bugs!

Sorry forgot to add: What do the ants do with these aphids? It looks like they're eating the aphids....?

As the Aphids eat the sap from the flowers they produce a sweet substance called honeydew that the ants like and collect. This article explains that although it may provide TMI.

kimmq is kimmsr

Lady bug lava eat aphids. You can wait for them to move in. Sometimes the predator insect (lady bug) takes a while to move in & control the prey (aphid) but it's worth waiting rather than use a pesticide. You can squash the aphids by hand if they look like they are killing the plant.

Most of the Lady Bugs sold through mail order are trapped and not raised by the sellers. It is not a good idea to order them via mail.
It is a good idea to learn how to create a habitat they will move into in your garden and that means not spraying pesticides.

I see I forgot to post this link above.

http://ucipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html

kimmq is kimmsr

How does a spraying water on the leaves help aphids and spider mites? What keeps them from coming right back to the same plant after they are sprayed?

If the plant can withstand a strong stream of water, it can actually crush or kill these soft bodied insects. At the very least, it will dislodge them and make them more vulnerable to predation. But nothing, not even insecticides, will keep them way permanently. Insecticides that are effective against aphids are usually contact insecticides.......they will kill by smothering but the insects must be present and come in contact with the product. Anything you use - water or something stronger - will need to be repeated as necessary :-)

Spider mites like conditions to be hot and dry. Spraying the plants down periodically will create a more humid environment that the mites dislike and they will stay away.

Thank you gardengal. When is a good time of day to spray the plants down with water? (Tomato plants). I see a few spider mites on the leaves. I've been using a stream of water from the hose and it works - I do it every other day. I'd like some ladybugs to show up so I kept some aphids intact.

Does anyone else use Neem Oil for spraying eg. roses and greenfly? I’ve also used the kitchen soap spray but never very keen as (mentioned above) it’s not organic, and also I feel it will repel bees etc.

As written above, the nasturtium attracts and 'traps' the aphids because the nasturtium juice chemically damages aphid taste buds so they cannot taste other plants very well and stay on the nasturtium.

You can spray them to reduce their population with insecticidal soaps, (commercially bought or homemade).

If you see ants nearby or on the same leaves they are likely farming the aphids because they eat the excretion from the aphid which is made primarily of sugars that they cannot digest.

The ants protect the aphids. So, best thing is some ant traps, and insecticidal soap combined.

I sprayed my nasturtium with bonide insecticidal soap today and realized afterwards that it says not to use on them. I rinsed off pretty quickly with water. Will this soap kill the plant or is it just meant not to use if you are ingesting the flowers? I noticed something seems to be eating at the leaves which is why i sprayed.