Re: Aphid Infestation

As far as buying ladybugs goes, see these reservations:

http://www.berkeleyhort.com/gardensuggestions/gs_mj05_ladybeetles.htm

Importing insects from the wild may not violate the letter of organic regulations, but it is certainly not sustainable, for those of you concerned with such things.

Best,
Max
Oakland



mtnstar@ocsnet.net wrote:
I tried a strong water spray but it wasn't enough for my wisteria. So I used insecticidal soap two times on my wisteria because the aphids were sucking the energy out of the tips so bad that the new growth wouldn't leaf out - so aphids can cause damage to the plant by reducing the plants energy stores needed to produce growth. Now my wisteria is leafing out on new growth. I also use the tangle foot at the bottom of the tree to keep the ants from "farming" the aphids - they have a symbionic relationship whereby the ants protect the aphids from other predators.
Ladybugs (lady beetles) and lacewings eat aphids - not sure what the other beetle might be that eats aphids. There are good bug insectaries where a person can purchase some beneficial insects to release on their property. I understand Ladybugs need to be kept confined in a screened cage for a day or so otherwise they will fly off to some other location.
I haven't had any aphids in my fruit trees but they were in my native willow trees - which were much too large and dense to spray - now the aphid population seems to have decreased naturally.
Linda Starr Springville Lavender Gardens 














Other Mailing lists |
Author Index |
Date Index |
Subject Index |
Thread Index