Aphids!

Category: Meadowing | Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:22 am

Well, my most recent mistake was thinking that aphids were relatively harmless. They are mostly that, but they are no fun to walk around with in the back yard, so I'm embarking on a two step process to reduce the numbers (now easily in the hundreds of thousands) to something more manageable.

I've purchased a small package of ladybug (lady beetle) lures and I also have an order in for 1500 ladybugs.

We'll see if they have any effect!

All the best,
J

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OrangeKing wrote on Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:03 pm:

I'm assuming that you want to avoid spraying with nasty chemicals?

Did you know that spraying with soapy water will also kill aphids? I use a squirt of washing-up liquid in a litre size sprayer.

It works by clogging the aphids spiracles, so they suffocate, and seems to be just as effective as the more expensive stuff full of chemicals with long names!

jb19012 wrote on Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:37 am:

Definitely want to avoid chemicals. Great idea and I'll give that a try soon. Certainly is cheaper! Thanks.

Kildale wrote on Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:37 pm:

I heard that most ladybugs leave when released so good luck to you.

jb19012 wrote on Thu Jun 30, 2011 12:35 am:

Deposited tonight, so I'll track them. I placed ladybug lures as well, so hopefully they will stick around. I've blown far more cash on far less potential, so this is as much an experiment as it is a solution.

jb19012 wrote on Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:43 pm:

Kildale, you're right. Gone in a matter of a few days at best. I'm moving on to Phase 2 with OrangeKing's suggestion.

"Never, never, never, never give up!" :)

Sherry8 wrote on Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:37 pm:

I have heard that coffee grounds soaked in water for a few days and then strained could be sprayed on the aphids to get rid of them....I haven't tried it but I will if they come here.

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