Good guy or bad guy with aphids?

hl2601 · June 7, 2018

Fighting many pests I have never seen this season. Look closely on the left side of stem- Is this a parasitic wasp getting close to thrip or aphid larva so I should be pleased? Or do I need to get the spinosad and DE going? Up in the right hand/top of the stem( 3rd pic) is that fine spider mite webbing?
Thanks for your input!

b54red · June 7, 2018

That doesn't look like spider mite webbing. It does look like you have quite a few aphids though.

Bill

bower · June 7, 2018

Hard to tell from your picture if the winged one is a friend or foe. It looks a bit large to be preying on the aphids though. Parasitoids come in all sizes and are scaled to suit specific prey. Braconids and Ichneumonids often have typical body types that you can learn to recognize pretty easily. Chalcids (often very small) and others have different body shapes.

Lots of pics of aphid parasitoids here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=para...VnIy3fivULaMM:

Google for "aphidius" and/or "aphelinus" to see two braconid types that are marketed for biological control. Incidentally the pattern of wing "venation" ie the lines and marks visible on the wings are used to tell one species from another. The pattern on the wings is visible in your pic and looks distinctive, but without a head or tail I couldn't guess....

I agree that's not mite webbing BTW, looks like seeds to me with fluff attached, if I'm looking at the right bit.

Good luck with all the pests!

gorbelly · June 13, 2018

The long, yellowish, cigar-shaped bugs are thrips. You definitely want to deal with them, as some species are vectors for viruses.

The white spot with black specks in it above your fingernail in the first photo is classic thrips damage.

hl2601 · June 18, 2018

Thanks everyone for the help and ID. I did alternate sprays of dish soap and spinosad and for now things look good.

Al@NC · June 18, 2018

1500 ladybugs would have a feast!

https://www.amazon.com/Bazos-1500-Li...ladybugs&psc=1

June 7, 2018	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	That doesn't look like spider mite webbing. It does look like you have quite a few aphids though. Bill

June 7, 2018	#3
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Hard to tell from your picture if the winged one is a friend or foe. It looks a bit large to be preying on the aphids though. Parasitoids come in all sizes and are scaled to suit specific prey. Braconids and Ichneumonids often have typical body types that you can learn to recognize pretty easily. Chalcids (often very small) and others have different body shapes. Lots of pics of aphid parasitoids here: https://www.google.com/search?q=para...VnIy3fivULaMM: Google for "aphidius" and/or "aphelinus" to see two braconid types that are marketed for biological control. Incidentally the pattern of wing "venation" ie the lines and marks visible on the wings are used to tell one species from another. The pattern on the wings is visible in your pic and looks distinctive, but without a head or tail I couldn't guess.... I agree that's not mite webbing BTW, looks like seeds to me with fluff attached, if I'm looking at the right bit. Good luck with all the pests!

June 13, 2018	#4
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	The long, yellowish, cigar-shaped bugs are thrips. You definitely want to deal with them, as some species are vectors for viruses. The white spot with black specks in it above your fingernail in the first photo is classic thrips damage.

June 18, 2018	#5
hl2601 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Metro Denver Posts: 771	Thanks everyone for the help and ID. I did alternate sprays of dish soap and spinosad and for now things look good.

June 18, 2018	#6
Al@NC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Vernon, BC Posts: 720	1500 ladybugs would have a feast! https://www.amazon.com/Bazos-1500-Li...ladybugs&psc=1