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Joliet, IL

I had some older leaves looking like symptoms of alternaria or maybe downey mildew. Then I recently noticed a couple patches of leaves on the healthier youngest leaves on the last rows of secondaries showing nice green color but portions of the leaves were starting to brown and fold over. I figured it was the diseases spreading and not that huge of a deal as growth is slowing big time. And i sprayed warrior 14 days ago which is a little longer than I should have let go but usually 2 weeks this late in the game between insecticide spraying sbhould be fine. This morning I flipped over those leaves with folded down brown edges to find an explosion of aphids. I was amazed and understand now why my growth suffered so bad last week and took a bigger jump down in daily gains. Never seen so many as the back of the affected leaves were completely caked. Lesson learned for next year in late august going into september to keep up diligent timely sprays and to start looking for aphids and spider mites (I got some of those too and saw some webbing on the backside of leaves) earlier before the damage is done.

8/31/2011 9:56:39 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I got aphids for the first time this year.

8/31/2011 4:54:42 PM

Joliet, IL

i will post some pics of the leaf damage and infestation on a leaf in my diary later. i also worked next to a farm field today and saw waves of spotted cukes eveywhere. the air was thick with them and you could basically find one anywhere you looked especially on my yellow cylinder test molds. this hot summer has them going another round or two before all is said and done.

8/31/2011 6:36:28 PM

Lexington, Ky

Thanks for the diary pic shaz.

8/31/2011 6:40:37 PM

Joliet, IL

no problem. and here is a nice quick and easy to read article on how they arrive and colonize in a few weeks. i think the key is checking the underside of leaves all season on a regular basis. you would think this would be standard qardening practice, but sometimes the simplest and easiest things to do get forgotten. i was so happy that the powdery mildew has been kept in check that i haven;t been flipping them over to look for onset of pm spores.

i will tell you what. about a week ago i started noticing an abundance of flies in the patch. way more than normal. an after reading the article, it makes sense. they have been swarming mostly arround the affected leaves. this honeydew secretion produced by the aphids attracts other insects like ants and flies.

simple signs in life if you keep your eyes open. i never had aphids before and spider mites are usually kept in check with the stihl fogger. lesson learned the hard way, but a very good one like the corn seed maggots taught me this year as well. once bitten twice shy. only one way to usually learn and drill it into the head deep.....the hard way.

8/31/2011 9:00:08 PM

Joliet, IL

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef103.asp

8/31/2011 9:02:01 PM

Joliet, IL

from what i have read, stylet oil works at killing aphids and spider mites and helps the recovery of the leaves that were tapped into as well.

8/31/2011 10:43:52 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Thanks Shaz for the article. I've always hated powdery mildew, but I think I hate aphids even more!! Stylet oil is a very effective product. But I must have missed a section of a Phat Jack plant. Just noticed some effected leaves yesterday. To make matters worse....I decided to cut out the effected section of the plant before I sprayed.

So what do you think was back in the plant?......a HUGE groundhog hole!!!

9/1/2011 9:23:48 AM

Joliet, IL

Nana....lol....it's always something. But look at it this way, the missed spray lead you to the affected plants that lead you to the ground hog hole which you now know is in the area before the eating machine turns your patch into one looking like Tom P.s some years back. Crazy how the worm turns.

One sign I missed but knew something was out of the ordinary was the amount of flies near the leaves that were affected. Now I know why....the honey dew secretions the aphids produce. I have read that if you follow the ants or the flies around plants that are more numerous than normal, look for aphids. So number one lesson I learned, always check the undersides of leaves all season long. Make it standard practice. And number 2, more systemic added late season as a power boost and contact spray every 7 days no matter what. A farmer/operator at work said aphids will turn an entire untreated green beanfield to yellow in a week when thick.

9/1/2011 1:13:56 PM

Joliet, IL

Forgot I mentioned the flies earlier. Doh! Anyways, you will know what I mean when you have an infestation like mine. Even the healthiest leaves have maybe 20 to 30 on the backside of leaves in the entire patch that are now dead. I hit with stylet oil under and over every leaf late last night with the aid of the flood lights and flashlight after the insecticide dried. Trying anything I can to muster up a few more pounds.

9/1/2011 1:21:04 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

Something else to watch for is wasps (not bees) flying in and out of your patch. They hunt aphids and if you see them you may have aphids.

9/1/2011 2:05:42 PM

Joliet, IL

Thanks Larry, I have noticed the wasps also but they are usually around all season enjoying the water from the misting system on the leaves in between cycles. This is another great article. In it it mentions that high temps will produce more of the winged travelers who will set up camp and ride the warm summer breezes long distances. I think this summer in the midwest counts as a hot summer. Hot as hell that is. Do yourselves a favor and check under your leaves.

9/1/2011 2:41:53 PM

Joliet, IL

http://www.backyardnature.net/aphid_lc.htm

9/1/2011 2:42:06 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Also if you spot a glaze on the ground beneath your plant.

9/1/2011 7:33:34 PM

Joliet, IL

Another confirmed case of aphid infestation in illinois about 40 miles north of joliet illinois. My patch was fogged for 2 hours with 16 gallons of mix for 2100 sq ft last week and it knocked them down, but not even close to out. Keep an eye out if you have any late season growers.

9/7/2011 10:36:47 AM