Aphids

[Stvrob]

Well the aphids have finally discovered my pepper seedlings. I'm usually able to hold them off with soapy water only. Usually, once it gets warmer, aphids are too juicy a target for predators of all sorts, so a delaying tactic is workable.
I always thought I should keep a garden journal, so I can record 1st aphid date and other essential observations so I don't have to rely on memory each year. But I'm thinking last year I had plenty of aphids weeks earlier.

[Vespertino]

I'm a gardening newb and I've already learned to hate aphids with a passion. They attacked my little rose plant very recently, I would kill the few I'd see by hand (smush) and the next thing I know they were coating the new shoots and rosebuds. I went nuclear with neem spray after garlic oil failed. I couldn't stand the possibility of them jumping to my fledgeling tomato plants.

Hate, hate, hate aphids.. They're like swarms of teeny locusts...

[efisakov]

"Aphids are very susceptible to fungal diseases when it is humid. Whole colonies of aphids can be killed by these pathogens when conditions are right. Look for dead aphids that have turned reddish or brown; they have a fuzzy, shriveled texture unlike the shiny, bloated, tan-colored mummies that form when aphids are parasitized."

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html

[b54red]

I am really disappointed in the ladybugs this year. So far only a couple have shown up in my entire garden. The aphids have now started attacking all of my tomato plants. I usually don't have a problem with them getting on tomatoes because the ladybugs get rid of them; but this year for some reason they are just not showing up in the numbers necessary to control aphids. I may hold on for a few more days but their numbers are really growing fast and soon I will have to resort to spraying.

Bill

[Tracydr]

I now have thousands of ladybug babies on my artichoke and all the aphids are gone! I guess I just needed more patience!

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by efisakov

"Aphids are very susceptible to fungal diseases when it is humid. Whole colonies of aphids can be killed by these pathogens when conditions are right. Look for dead aphids that have turned reddish or brown; they have a fuzzy, shriveled texture unlike the shiny, bloated, tan-colored mummies that form when aphids are parasitized."

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html

We have 4% humidity it AZ right now. I guess that's not going to happen,lol!

[kilroyscarnival]

I still have aphids, but way more ladybugs have shown up. It looks like a fairer fight now.

[clkeiper]

Horticultural grade insecticidal soap is extremely effective on spider mites and aphids. I has worked very well for me so far. I already have had both to deal with this spring. I put it in a little hand held pump pressure sprayer and coat tops and bottoms of leaves.

[kilroyscarnival]

Thanks, Carolyn, I've been using neem oil solution. Do you think the insecticidal soap you use is better?

[Tracydr]

Around this time I get worried about spraying anything because we are starting to see daytime temperature over 90 degrees. With humidity this low, we have no dew, so there is nothing to dilute or wash spray off by applying it in the morning or evening. I've burned plants with the mildest of soap sprays.

[Sun City Linda]

Originally Posted by Heritage

Ann,

Just a heads up if your cat is an outdoor cat - permethrin is very toxic to cats, so make sure you don't accidentally dose your cat or let her play in the plants before the spray has dried.

Good luck on the aphid control!
Steve

Is Permethrin the artificially made pyrethrin?

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by kilroyscarnival

Thanks, Carolyn, I've been using neem oil solution. Do you think the insecticidal soap you use is better?

Insecticidal soap is excellent for aphids. Maybe better than neem solution, but neem should work too.
Ann,do you put a little dish soap into your neem spray to help it to spread? I usually put 1 TBS per 2 gallon filled sprayer because it stops the surface tension and helps the neem spread over the leaf better. The soap has a dual action in that it washes the waxes off the aphid or whitefly and they rupture. Anyway, that could be your insecticidal soap instead of buying the expensive stuff.
Marsha

[clkeiper]

Actually, I do, although they are working in different ways and as Ginger stated adding the soap to the neem should help to make it more effective. Neem acts as an insecticidal, fungicidal product and HS acts as a desiccant by stripping away the outer protective layer of the insect. I had a friend bring me her Angels Trumpet to keep going for her while she went away for a week to go see her dad. She said "I don't know what is wrong with that one" as I examined the leaves and immediately said it has spidermites. I didn't even have to see them they was that tell tale white/cloudy surface on the leaves. I got out my spray and sprayed them as she stood in my greenhouse and as I looked at them yesterday the new leaves on the infected one are beautiful and I sprayed again just to make sure there wasn't a new generation started that I couldn't see.

adding a T or so of rubbing alcohol will help, too, but I don't know about adding it to the neem, though. I personally was disappointed in the neem products.

[EarlyStarter]

I was hosing off tons of aphids every day for the past month or so. Over the past couple of weeks hundreds, maybe thousands of ladybugs have emerged and are now doing a tremendous job at controlling the aphids. Way to go bug-ladies, well done