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pests Bugs on leaves
- Thread starter dsm600rr
- Start date
Shier Evil !!!!
I find ladybird larvae the best solution to an infestation myself but, if it's just starting out, kill the bugs by hand and spray the plant with a very weak soap solution to keep them from returning.
They're pretty easy to get rid of. It seems to me that they come in waves though. You may not see any for weeks, then boom! Aphids all over. In small numbers they wont do much harm but once they take over they can kill your plants. Some people just wash them off with a hose. I prefer a more lethal approach..
I have learned to become good friends with neem oil. Also if you use dish soap, make sure it isn't one that contains any anti-bacterial, anti-microbial additives or oxy bleaches, it's sure fire way to destroy your plant.
When you say "dish soap"... What exactly do you mean then? Do you mean dishwashing liquid? If so, this is really not ideal and I would recommend against it!
Dishwashing liquid contains quite strong detergents since its aim is to clean dishes, not aphids. Ideally what you're looking for are potassium salts of long-chained fatty acids, insecticidal soaps. The phytotoxicity is quite correlated with length of the chains themselves (a bit like how it works for horticultural oil, i.e. summer and winter oils) and you're looking for >10 carbon atoms or so. Dishwashing soap will not fit here and might not even contain classical "soaps", i.e. fatty acid salts; The components might be even more toxic than small-chained fatty acid soaps.
In Sweden we have a popular general pine-based soaping product which contains potassium tallate (pine oil fatty acids of length 16-18), potassium carbonate and sodium sulphate which works well with minimal toxicity (only seen some in >10% concentration or so, which is way to high anyway). Find a similar soap. Do not use a strong detergent!
You could very well do fine with a strong detergent in small concentrations but it's an unnecessary risk and your ratio of aphid-killing/pepper-killing is probably biased against you, limiting your use of a truly effective concentration (1-2%).
Dishwashing liquid contains quite strong detergents since its aim is to clean dishes, not aphids. Ideally what you're looking for are potassium salts of long-chained fatty acids, insecticidal soaps. The phytotoxicity is quite correlated with length of the chains themselves (a bit like how it works for horticultural oil, i.e. summer and winter oils) and you're looking for >10 carbon atoms or so. Dishwashing soap will not fit here and might not even contain classical "soaps", i.e. fatty acid salts; The components might be even more toxic than small-chained fatty acid soaps.
In Sweden we have a popular general pine-based soaping product which contains potassium tallate (pine oil fatty acids of length 16-18), potassium carbonate and sodium sulphate which works well with minimal toxicity (only seen some in >10% concentration or so, which is way to high anyway). Find a similar soap. Do not use a strong detergent!
You could very well do fine with a strong detergent in small concentrations but it's an unnecessary risk and your ratio of aphid-killing/pepper-killing is probably biased against you, limiting your use of a truly effective concentration (1-2%).
SwedishGhost said:
Bingo, we have a winner! I have read many discussions here that the poster used "dish washing soap" and nobody spoke up about this issue, myself included. Basically, common dish washing "liquid" is not soap.
As this knowledgeable poster is from across the pond my understanding is Castile Soap is the best for soft bodied bug control here in the US.> How to Make Homemade Insecticidal Soap for PlantsSwedishGhost said:
Pure Soap: Use a pure liquid soap, such as Castile, or all-natural soap. The active ingredient in insecticidal soap comes from the fatty acids in animal fat or vegetable oil, so it’s important to use the real thing. Don’t use detergents (which aren’t actually soaps), dish soaps, or any products with degreasers, skin moisturizers, or synthetic chemicals.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap is usually pretty easy to find in stores, or check your local natural-foods store for other options.
Habanebro said:Hello, would you please help identify these bugs? Some are bigger and browner. They coat my leaves with a shiny liquid. And I guess they eat the leaves.
Thank you!
You have two types of bugs....the skinny white ones look like thrips. The round bodied one possibly spider mite? not 100% sure on spider mite.
