Bugs eating my eggplant and turnips (pics)
 

Anyone know what these critters are? The first three photos are of the bugs eating my eggplant, and the forth is eating my turnips. No other plants are affected.

And how do I get rid of them? (prefer an organic approach) They are doing real damage to my plants.

Thanks!

TomNJ/VA

That is one I am not familiar with, sorry.

Bill

I should note that they are real small, only about 1/8 inch long. I enlarged the photos to show detail.

Tom

The ones on the eggplant are flea beetles. I don't know what the one on the turnip leaf is, but flea beetles also eat turnip leaves.

Flea beatles on the eggplants. Mine are being torn up this year, they look like lace now! You can use DE safely. Be warned its not working on these flea beetles this year, there is so much rain, it washes off and more beetles come. I have accepted its a bad year for my eggplants. I'm leaving them for the beetles now so they won't disturb anything else!


Lindsey

Tom, if you can have it shipped to you in VA. you can use this. Certified Organic.

[URL="http://www.groworganic.com/debug-turbo-qt.html"]http://www.groworganic.com/debug-turbo-qt.html[/URL]

Label in Pdf: [url]http://www.groworganic.com/media/pdfs/pbt620-b.pdf[/url]

Claud

Tom, you may get some ideas from this site:

[URL]http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/mg/gm_tips/fleabeetles.html[/URL]

I'm glad I reread this thread. I was out watering my tomatoes when you posted they were enlarged photos. I get them every year on the lower leaves of my peppers until I mulch them. This year I mulched them immediately and have not had a problem. I used cypress mulch about 2 inches or more thick. Before I used it as a mulch I had to spray with a mild Permethrin spray which is not organic but it is cheap and relatively mild as poisons go.

Bill

contrary to most years i have only had a few this year. i have them in planters this year and they are about 24" off the ground. i recently noticed 2 lady bugs doing their duty. it appears that they are habging around.:yes:;)

jon

Flea beetles...see the hind legs...they are made for jumping (nice pics, btw).
Perhaps Neem Oil would help control them: [URL]http://www.gardensafe.com/products-and-solutions/fungicide/neem-oil-extract-concentrate.aspx[/URL]

Here is a wonderful PDF from Purdue all about flea beetles. I do believe the picture at the beginning of the attachment is your little friend.

tom i stopped growing things that fb destroy. but last year and this year i mulched heavily with shredded leaves while planting things i stopped due to this problem and to my surprise no flea beetle issues last year and so far nothing this year. maybe i broke a cycle and they'll return but so far nothing. i know you use spoiled hay but maybe the leaves don't allow gaps for them to hide in and the hay does? get a landscaper in the fall that has shredded leaves and see if he'll deliver a couple of trucks worth. maybe barter some of that salsa or garlic or whatever?

tom

Thanks all - some very helpful information! Having never used any pesticides or herbicides in nearly 40 years of gardening I would like to avoid this route if possible. I will conduct some experiments tomorrow with a spray of hot pepper and garlic sauce, perhaps with some molasses and vinegar. If this doesn't work I'll give neem oil a shot, and then go from there. Thank goodness they haven't bothered my tomatoes - that would be war!!

TomNJ/VA

I agree with the diagnosis of flea beetles. Excellent pics! I wish you were nearby, I would have you photograph my honeybees! I have taken lots of pics of them, but the camera resolution is not too great.

My neighbor, who is in his 70's, swears by a tea made by soaking cigarette tobacco in about a cup of warm water, them spraying that on the eggplant. Nicotine is a natural insecticide. It always works for him. Might be worth trying.

tom have you considered putting out yellow sticky traps? if you have any yellow plastic grocery bags cut out a piece, cover with thin layer of Vaseline and staple to cardboard on a stick.

tom

My eggplants are far past gone now, due to the flea beetles. And I was thinking about never growing eggplants, b/c it is just so difficult here for me in 7a VA, but then I had a thought, what if I used row covers on my eggplants next year? DO you think that would discourage the flea beetles? Might work for you in Jersey too.