Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey folks

Any tips out there for aphid control? My capsicums and chillies are infested.... argh!

Thanks

1) Capsicum and chilli spray (search for it on here and you will find a recipe or three).

2) Bright coloured flowers to attract lady birds.

This is in the Aquaponics obsession thread

Soup/Pesticide Recipe:

1 Gal Water
2 Onions
1 full bulb of Garlic
1 tbs cheyenne pepper
1 tbs chili powder
1 tbs black pepper

Hey Wal,

If you can cover the surface of your growing media with newspaper a few sheets thick so the spray can't contact the surface, and cover your FT from any spray drift, then spray the affected plants with Neem oil, concentrating on the infestations.

Also, plant Alyssum, Lobellia and other small annuals with small flowers. If you have parasitic wasps in your area these small flowers will attract them. I planted both a few years ago, the Lobellia won't self seed, but the Allysum will come up on it's own.

If you have a look at the aphids before spraying them with Neem oil, and you see any that are much fatter than the rest of the population and are bronze or gold in colour, they have been parasitised by the wasps. Remove them before spraying, keep them in a well aerated container with some foliage, and re-introduce them to the garden a couple of days after spraying with Neem.

Neem is non-toxic to humans, I've used it on my systems, if the proper pre-cautions are taken, as described above... it's fine.

Mr Damage.

Yep... deal with your ant problem...

Iv got Aphids Galore and never seen an ant... See a fair few ladybirds from time to time though...

Always about the Ants Rupert I had a funny feeling you would reply with that as you normally do

There is a company in Qld called Bugs 4 Bugs which sells parasitic insects to suit your kind of bug infestation. About $35 a jar, sent by post, but I guess you would need a big GB to justify that....lol.
Ants will farm aphids and scale insects.

Ladybugs are the best answer to your aphid problem, followed by parasitic wasps- though you will have trouble seeing them and identifying them without a magnifying glass or macro camera lens. It sure is worth looking. Spray them off with a jet of water- better still if mixed with seasol or even worm juice.