RE: Aphid Infestation

Title: Message
Good point. Rincon-Vitova Insectaries in Ventura is a good mail-order source, among others (that's just the only one I know).
http://rinconvitova.com/aphid%20control.htm
 
Other aphid-gobbling insects include parasitic wasps (look for dead aphids with "trapdoors"--holes where the wasp has eaten its way out) and syrphid fly larvae. Larger wasps do a great job de-aphidizing a plant as well.
 
Cheryl (who had a great time watching syrphid larvae gobble aphids in an insects class!)
Santa Clara, California
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu] On Behalf Of Joe Seals
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 10:14 AM
To: maxwithers@gmail.com; medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Re: Aphid Infestation

Just to clarify and/or elaborate...
 
The commonly-sold species of ladybug in retail stores in California (and elsewhere) and through some mail-order companies is Hippodamia convergens.  It is the migratory type and the one that's a waste of money.
 
But there are many other species of ladybird beetles (Coccinelids) that are non-migratory and very specific in their prey.  These species are available only through specialists -- insectories who sell direct and a few mailorder companies that distribute for those insectories.
 
Joe 


Max Withers <maxwithers@gmail.com> wrote:
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
>
>
>




Joe Seals
Santa Maria, California --
where the weather is always perfect
and my NEW garden will soon be blooming and full of birds and butterflies
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