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Old June 2, 2013   #1
claherron
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Default Is this a good guy or bad guy?



It looked like some sort of wasp I have never seen one before.


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Old June 2, 2013   #2
kath
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Yikes- looks like a squash vine borer to me...definitely not a good guy. Makes squash plants wilt and die almost overnight.

Here's a googled image:
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Old June 2, 2013   #3
linzelu100
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Oh wow I never saw a mature one before.
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Old June 2, 2013   #4
claherron
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Great I was hoping for a good guy, going for all bugs are bad approach from now on. Except bees and lady bugs which are not around. Any good advice on killing them.


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Old June 2, 2013   #5
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The only thing I have ever found that slows them down is dusting the lower stem of squash plants with Sevin. You have to keep it on the stem as much as possible. Re-dust if it rains or if you water and wash it off. There is no need to dust the rest of the plant just the lower stem where their larvae bore into the plant. Once they are in it's too late.

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Old June 2, 2013   #6
claherron
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Looked at all the stems today no signs of damage, just squash bugs. It's going to be a long year for my crooked necks


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Old June 3, 2013   #7
Redbaron
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My neighbor told me last week that her solution to both vine borers and squash bugs is chickens.

I am not so sure how she does it, but she held them off for over a month last year without a single dust or spray. She even had most her crop survive the month long onslaught and make it till frost! Keep in mind our area for some reason is a squash bug nightmare. I have seen plants go down in a single day!
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Old June 3, 2013   #8
claherron
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Ok so I have long been wanting to raise chickens, won't they rip the garden to pieces? I also found some that hatched with a strange white little caterpillar eating them? Photo doesn't want to upload.

And these little white eggs.



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Old June 3, 2013   #9
feldon30
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The only non-chemical treatment I know of bad bugs like these is a Dustbuster.
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Old June 3, 2013   #10
claherron
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Not a bad idea either.


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Old June 3, 2013   #11
Kazfam
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First pic - Squash Vine Borer --> they are a moth and easily destroyed by squishing and/or dumping onto bucket of soapy water. Get rid of them.

Second pic (under leaf) - Aphids --> insecticidal soap: check this link (scroll down) http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgi.../hgic2218.html
And the white critter with the aphids is a ladybeetle larva - eating the aphids (scroll down) http://www.easttennesseewildflowers.com/gallery/index.php/Beetles_Bugs

Third pic - perhaps pupa from the Braconid Wasp (an excellent insect to have in the garden) BUT the eggs are usually implanted in a host (like the hornworm) and the larva surface and pupate on the outsideof the host so I am dubious. http://www.bugladyconsulting.com/Bra...20%20Wasps.htm
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Old June 3, 2013   #12
claherron
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Well I didn't kill any of them and won't knowing that is a lady bug. It was absolutely munching on the aphids.

I also noticed ants hoarding them up, I now know the ants eat something the aphids put on the leaves.

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Old June 3, 2013   #13
BarbJ
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In the picture with the aphids, I'm pretty sure that's not a ladybug(beetle) larvae, it's a Mealy Bug Destroyer. Definitely a Good Guy! They eat aphids, mealy bugs and scale. I also see one and maybe two Syrphid Fly larvae. It's the greenish/clearish maggot looking thing right and up from the MBD, looks like maybe one more by the stem. Also very Good Guys!

Do Not use insecticidal soap on them now. You will kill the good guys and the bad. Give the Good Guys about a week and you'll see the aphids pretty much gone.
Remember when using IPM (Integrated Pest Management) methods, you aren't going for total kill. Some pests need to be around in small numbers to feed the Good Guys, or they won't come back to your garden in future years. You're looking for greatly reduced numbers of pests, instead of total kill.

Yeah, controlling the ants will help reduce the aphids.


Mealy Bug Destroyer and adult


syrphid fly larvae


Syrphid Fly adult


And just for fun, Lacewing adult eggs,and larvae-



And here's Ladybugs-


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Old June 4, 2013   #14
Kazfam
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BarbJ View Post
In the picture with the aphids, I'm pretty sure that's not a ladybug(beetle) larvae, it's a Mealy Bug Destroyer.
A Mealybug Destroyer (in the OP's pic it is in the larval stage) is a type of lady beetle:

Like other lady beetles, the Mealybug Destroyer has proven its usefulness as an effective biological control agent.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/g..._destroyer.htm

Here is a pic of the adult:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/me...destroyer.html

The lady beetle never ceases to amaze!
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Old June 3, 2013   #15
Redbaron
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Agree with Barb! One trick to prevent ants from bringing in and farming the aphids is to put a ring of DE around the base of the plant. Ants won't cross the barrier. (until the next rain washes the DE away)
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