Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My system was started around Feb this year. Plants are thriving but my honeydew has these bugs pictured below. They can fly. I also found a green caterpillar inside a honeydew the size of two softballs. That honeydew had holes on the bottom of it where the caterpillars probably got in. I pulled off at least 10-15 of the bugs pictured bellow. Dispute the honeydew having tons of flowers and tiny starting fruit, the fruit would turn brown yellow. Fruit would not reach 1/2 inch size before it turned yellow and dry up. The rest of the plant is growing like crazy and nice green. Looks healthy. Are these bugs pictured below my problem?

Cropped version

I really want to see that monster of a caterpillar!

My plan for bugs is diatomaceous earth (DE) for bugs with legs that eat plants and Spinosad insecticide for caterpillar like bugs. The DE seems to be reducing my grasshopper population and I haven't seen a caterpillar yet. (Knock on wood.)

Sorry, my wording was a bit off. The honeydew was the size if two softballs when we noticed the holes under the fruit with the caterpillar inside.

That looks like a stink/squash bug to me and they are hard on plants. They come in various colors. DE should do the job. Look for egg clusters on the under side of leaves.

Does the DE have any effects to tilapia? Does the DE have to be food grade?

I'm not sure what effect it would have if it got into the system water....as far as I know it is not water soluble. Maybe over time it would break down, but like I said I am not sure. It is mostly silica so it shouldn't be a problem? To be safe you can just put it around the outside perimeter of the GB where the bugs can climb up or enter the GB.

Still having a problem with these guys. Them suckers fly! I put DE on everything but they don't seem to care.