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Phoenix Az

Whats the best way to KILL aphids???

5/11/2003 1:21:01 PM

Usa

David,
This is information from the U of A for low desert area.
To get rid of and control aphids, mix nonfat dry milk with water according to the directions on the box, then put the solution in a spray bottle and apply it to the leaves of your plants. As the milk dries, the aphids get stuck in the milky residue and die. You can rinse the plants from time to time with the hose. This will not harm your plants and offers an inexpensive solution to a big problem.
Another deterrent for aphids, especially on roses, is to use 1-1/2 teaspoons of baking soda per pint of water and apply it every seven days. It's user-, earth- and child-friendly.
Aphids and white flies are attracted to bright yellow and can be trapped by placing a yellow board or other yellow objects (i.e. yellow margarine lids or sticks painted yellow) coated with heavy motor oil, petroleum jelly or Tack Trap near susceptible plants. Re-coat when the traps dry out.
Hope this helps. It gives you a couple of solutions.
Diane

5/11/2003 1:57:08 PM

Long Island,New York

Milk and pumpkins....again...................G

5/11/2003 5:00:10 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

As for the chemical options:
Imidacloprid (Admire, Provado, Merit, or Marathon) systemic does a great job so long as it goes down early. Like most systemics, it's used primarily for it's soil absorbed properties & that takes some time. It has contact properties as well so applying now is not a waste of time.

Synthetic pyrethroids are the quickest. Pounce, Astro, Capture, Warrior etc are just a few of the trade names. Resmethrin, Bifenthrin, Permethrin, Cyfluthrin, & Lambda cyhalothrin are a few technical names. I just found aphids in the greenhouse & am using Astro. And yes I know the greenhouse isn't on the label but it's better than buying more.

Retail preperations may carry any number of strange trade names so look for the technical name if that's the only option.

Endeavor is a federally "reduced risk pesticide" that offers very low toxicity & is used almost exclusively for aphids.

M-Pede Soap (& others) & Horticultural Oil are very effective soft pesticides if that's what you're after but be ready to reapply regularly. The powdered milk sounds interesting. But I don't know if I'd try this under plastic. Sniff, sniff...LOL.

I like yellow sticky traps for monitoring under glass. But it won't do much to control an aphid problem.

Steve

5/11/2003 5:00:12 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I have some merit left over from spraying Barley I'd like to use it,can anybody put my mind at rest regarding any side effects to the pumpkin plant like growth check?

5/11/2003 7:21:56 PM

Chico, Ca

Would the milk help a fungal problem arise? I'll keep the milk in my cereal.

5/11/2003 7:50:44 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Ladybug Larve with reduce the population of aphids. Might not be the fastest, but just an alternative...Tom

5/11/2003 8:36:39 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Merit won't harm cukes. The agriculture version is called Admire & edible cucmbers. mellons, squash, pumpkins, corn, tomatoes, stone fruit, etc are all on the label. Somehow Merit never makes it into the fruit. Just stems, vines, & leaves. I treated the entire patch avbout 2 weeks ago. Pre-plant.

See Len Stellpflug's article on Admire in the "How To" section of this website back at the homepage.

Steve

5/11/2003 8:45:43 PM

Usa

It is going to be 100 degrees this week. Can you use all of the chemical insecticides in that heat?

5/12/2003 1:45:06 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ouch! I wouldn't even look at them cross eyed in that kind of heat Diane. Even water on the very young & tender foliage is dangerous at 100*. Soaps & Oils are even worse than pyrethroids in that kind of heat. Not sure about the powdered milk.
Another reason I like soil applied systemics on young starts.
I'd wait till sundown & temps under 85* for all spray activity this week. Then spray at the lowest rates. Then if the next day is hot again, perhaps a little shading & misting to reduce stress.
As much as I'd like some warmer weather (ran the heat lastnight in the minigreenhouses) I don't envy you guys in that kind of heat.
Be Careful!
Steve

5/12/2003 5:17:04 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I was getting all excited about the prospect of using up some old spray and killing all my blackflies for free,so I rooted out the can only to find that it was not the same product.
I have Merit herbicide made by Cyanamid containing Clomazone,it is old and I believe now sold as Command 360 ME just mentioning this in case there are any confused farmers out there.

Like Steve says always read the label.

5/12/2003 6:20:02 AM

Liverpool , England

Mark I use washing up liquid..kills the little blighters and then washes off the leaves leaving no residue.Trust me... I'm a pumpkin grower.

Alun

5/12/2003 7:30:46 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Alun,that sounds like my kind of cure,thanks.

Mark

5/13/2003 2:11:47 AM

churchville, ny

Alun J- do you mean hand soap when you say "washing up liquid? Any special brand ? Do you wah it off the leaves right away or wait for rain? Thanks Tom

5/18/2003 9:00:59 PM

Phoenix Az

I got about 20 lady bugs all try that tonight.

5/18/2003 11:04:41 PM

Ohio, USA

My house becomes infested in the summer with ladybugs. I'll send you some if you like.

6/1/2003 6:46:23 PM