Re: Orange aphids


--
>Hi again:  The Friends of the Gardens group at the University of Western
>Ontario is in the midst of preparing for a May Plant Sale.  Along with
>starting things from seed, we have some asclepiadaceae - Asclepias
>curassavica and Tweedia caerulea - held over from last summer.  They all
are
>infested with this yukky orange aphid - and it's only the ascleps that have
>it - nothing else, thank the Lord!  We've tried pinching them and scalding
>them but they come back - there is a little wasp they tell me which makes
>short work of them.  But I wonder if anyone on this list has any idea of
how
>they get there and how we can make them disappear??  Thanks so much.  Fran


Hi

I'm familiar with this one also. I'm told it was originally an African
native aphid & have encountered it with native succulent asclepiads such as
Gasteria, where it attacked the flower stalks. The only thing it affects me
with now is Oxypetalum ( Tweedia ? ) caerulea when I build up large
concentrations of them as a bagged line. Once again they seem most
susceptible around flowering time , when they seem to have the softest
tissue, though they will cover the entire plant. I assume that any common
aphicide will control them. I merely leave them, as I have a healthy praying
mantis population, & generally it only takes a few weeks for the plants to
be clean again. Their ability to bloom & then apparently disappear into thin
air again is amazing & I can never work out where the reservoir is.

We also have a caterpillar here which developed with the succulent
asclepiads & will chew straight into them. This also has a crossover
appetite with Ficus spp, which I thought were untouchable. I couldn't
believe the first time when I saw one eating a Ficus decora leaf & crapping
little rubber balls. Hows that for a digestive system !

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph SA 021 7904253 Fax SA 021 7905139 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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