The aphids have not died. The aphids are worse. The
bananas did nothing, the
Tomato Spray did nothing. I still have more and more aphids,
and not a single aphid snacker in sight. It's time to jump start the process. I headed over to Arbico-Organics a local garden store (they ship!) to see what my options are. After a great chat with a master gardener who considered at my problem; aphids, lack of beneficials, and an army of ants protecting their aphid heard, we came up with a plan...
1. Kill the ants-because there are so many aphids I now have SO MANY ANTS. They collect the aphid poop-honeydew-and protect their little poop farms like crazy. DE will help cut down some of the ant population so that the Aphid Eaters can get in there and tear it up
2. Kill the Aphids. Lace wings (AKA Aphid Lions) are a good choice here. Lady Bugs, everyone's favorite aphid killer, are miserable here in the summer. Even though it is October it is still hitting 90 degree's every day. Not a good choice for the lady bird beetle.
First I Sprinkle the DE around the garden, this keeps the ant population down and protects the plants. Then I split the eggs into coffee filters which I tied to some of the plants. The filters protect the eggs from things that might creep along and snack away on my lil lacewing babies
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| egg nursery |
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| Trying to keep the filter on the melon off the ground was tough! |
They should hatch in a few days but I will be out of town when that happens. Hopefully when I get back we will less of this
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