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Can I kill them?
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3291		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  kenour [ Apr 21st, '08, 07:31 ]
Post subject:  Can I kill them?
Cause I WANNA!!!

Anyone know what they are? Seem to have been there since day one. I've been removing leaves with them on and giving it to the ducks/chickens, but seem to be fighting a loosing battle. I haven't sprayed with dipel yet, trying to avoid using anything if possible. Since I've put the mesh tents over the growbeds haven't had any caterpillars :) Just these little buggers remain!

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File comment: Little buggers that are on the underside of my pak choy!
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Author:  faye [ Apr 21st, '08, 07:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
NO.DON'T DO IT KENOUR!
Stop, wait and watch. You can grown them and watch what they hatch in to.
Please do it for me, cause I want to know what they will grown into and afterall they might be beneficial. What I can tell you is that I think they have just hatched from eggs and they are some sort of bug, they will probably go through a couple of moults before turning into a pupa and hatching as an adult, lets just wait and see, Please!
Author:  faye [ Apr 21st, '08, 07:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
Actually, I just had another look and I wonder if they are aphids, how big are they really? Sometimes with a great photo like yours we are seeing things differently than what we normally see.
Author:  timmy [ Apr 21st, '08, 08:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
the question is - is your plant suffering?
even if they aren't benfitcial there is no point spraying or doing anything that much cause more problems then it's worth.
if your plants aren't suffering i'd just pick them off and feed them to the fish.
Author:  kenour [ Apr 21st, '08, 08:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
faye wrote:
Actually, I just had another look and I wonder if they are aphids, how big are they really? Sometimes with a great photo like yours we are seeing things differently than what we normally see.


I'll take a better photo with a match head as scale, that one is grainy as because I took it in low light without a flash, I'll get my big camera and do a marco in full light with a scale (if I can find some more that is!) :) I'll also grab an 'infected' leaf in a jar and wait and see what I get!

timmy wrote:
the question is - is your plant suffering?
even if they aren't benfitcial there is no point spraying or doing anything that much cause more problems then it's worth.
if your plants aren't suffering i'd just pick them off and feed them to the fish.


Yep, holes in the leaves. Not sure if these guys are the culprits, but they're the only things I can find on the leaves. Ever since the mesh went up I haven't had the big caterpillars to worry about, but still getting little holes.
Author:  kenour [ Apr 21st, '08, 09:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
Found some more and took some more photo's. These seem to be at a later stage in their development, as they are covering in a white powder. I managed to coax one onto the match head to get a better idea of how big they are.

Oh well, I'll have to channel my blood lust elsewhere if I can't kill these things! :twisted: Now... those sparrows that have been stealing the chook food... :P

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File comment: He can fly!
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File comment: Now I play the waiting game!
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Author:  RupertofOZ [ Apr 21st, '08, 10:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
They don't look like ladybird larvae ... but I agree with Faye.... would leave them and see what they turn into.... don't think that they are directly responsible for the plant damage
Author:  RupertofOZ [ Apr 21st, '08, 10:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
Actually.... they look like mealybug larvae ...

The furry white elongated ones are ladybird larvae... the oval ones mealybug...

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Author:  kenour [ Apr 21st, '08, 11:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
My sister just told me they're boring old aphids :( Time for a search I think! See what AP friendly solutions are being used to get rid of them.
Author:  kenour [ Apr 21st, '08, 11:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
Ok, after some research... I WANT LADYBUGS! :P

Does anyone know where to get them in Aus?

Can get there here from the states but I doubt they would get through customs :P
Author:  Don the fish feeder [ Apr 21st, '08, 11:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
Yep aphids.
Author:  RupertofOZ [ Apr 21st, '08, 11:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
List of beneifical bug suppliers on this web page ... http://www.goodbugs.org.au/suppliers.htm
Author:  Don the fish feeder [ Apr 21st, '08, 12:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
I have to say I would go on a bug hunt!
Any excuse for me to go on a bug hunt though!

Try taking a fish net and going out into a paddock and just sweeping it thru grass.
(No idea where you are or if you have a paddock though)
'Meadow Plankton'
Never know though might get a few. I usually catch a few different species of lady bug looking things when I catch me fish some bugs.
I know its only one type that actually eats lady beetles but ya never know!
Could even put the word out to the neighbour/your kids.
I'd love to get paid to hunt bugs!
:D
Author:  kenour [ Apr 21st, '08, 13:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
RupertofOZ wrote:
List of beneifical bug suppliers on this web page ... http://www.goodbugs.org.au/suppliers.htm


That's for that! I google my sweet arse off but could only find things relating to the US! They get things a hell of a lot cheaper than we do :(
Author:  kenour [ Apr 22nd, '08, 10:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Can I kill them?
I found some more bugs today on one of my lettuce, they're different looking fella's! To me they seem like they would be more predatory than leaf eating, as there was no damage to the leaf they were on, and they just look ready for a brawl :P

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File comment: Mummy! (or Daddy, but he's probably down at the pub.)
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File comment: The Babies!
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