Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Anyone know these are?

Would dipel kill them?

Look for signs of webbing (as in fine spider webs) this will be an indication as to whether they are spider mites. My eyes are not that good Zman
I cannot see any signs of damage, so why would you want to kill them?
Dipel will kill caterpillars and there is no evidence of holes in the leaves that I can see, so I think spraying would be a waste of time.
If you want to .... spray with worm juice diluted 1 part juice to 9 parts water, it will act as a deterrant without upsetting the ecosystem.
They might even be good bugs like tiny parasitic wasps if you are lucky.

Hi Faye, on that leaf there was no damage but my Chinese cabbage and bok choi are getting eaten with holes on their leaves.

I think i saw some small webs on another plant but i just goggled the spider mite, it looks similar but i dont think i saw its distinctive legs. Are spider mites good or bad bugs?

Sorry about the pic, unfortunately the iphone cant zoom in

Zman. I used to think the iPhone camera couldnt zoom in but one day I accidentally touched the screen and a scroll bar appeared.

For a better description check out: http://ipod.about.com/od/introductionto ... Camera.htm

Arbe just saw it thanks mate, will try that to get a better pic for Faye the bug whisper

Bad! Spider mites are tiny, almost to small to see without a magnifier. The holes that you are seeing are caused by something else. Possibly cabbage loopers and dipel should help with this. Snails and slugs could also be causing this so keep your eyes open for these as well.

Mites usually multiply rapidly when the weather is hot. Look under the leaves and you will probably see way more than you do on top. It's hard to describe the way the damage looks, the leaves turn sandpapery and dried out, then eventually fall off. Leaves sometimes are described as being stipled.

Found 2 more bugs. When i went to look for the red mites i couldnt find it but found some clear mites and a black flying bug.

Anyone know what they are. The clear mites were infesting my Mizuna plant but not making any damage to it

bug 1 is having bug 2 for a meal...
bug 1 you want around
Yust thinking

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=6137&start=75

check my photos from my first system.
these are the red spider mite...
want to get on top of them pretty quick, other wise they will take over.

Matt

Hey Zman,

Of the two later photo's, the top one looks like aphids. I watched a doco on insects once and it showed a female aphid on time lapse... they just continuously spit out babies, they don't even stop eating to do it.

Parasitic wasps and labybird larvae (and adults) are the best for sorting out aphids naturally. You can attract the wasps by planting plants with tiny flowers, my veg garden has Allysum planted all the way through it, they self seed after the first year.

Don't kill the ladybird larvae... lots of people do!... they aren't the most attractive insect and people assume they're baddies... Google them.

For your mites, you could get some predator mites, there are places that will mail them out to you... Persimillis mite is one predator, but I think it only feeds on two spotted mite. If you believe you have Red spider mite you would probably want to talk to the specialists at one of the mail-order IPM (Integrated Pest Management) companies, such as these guys: http://www.bugsforbugs.com.au/home

You could also try spraying with Neem Oil, for both pests. Ensure that the growing media is thoroughly covered (no gaps) so the Neem doesn't contact it. I cover mine with newspaper, a few sheets thick. Spray under the foliage and on top. Spray every day for three or four days, then every 4 days until they're gone.

Cheers.

P.S. I've found the best thing, in my garden at least, for attracting ladybirds are sunflowers. I've had sunflowers literally covered in ladybug larvae.

Also, if any of the aphids are much larger than the rest, swollen and bronze in colour... don't kill them, don't spray them with Neem. They have been parasitised by predatory wasps. You can collect them ones off the plants before spraying and relocate them to plants that aren't going to be sprayed, in other GB's, or elsewhere in the garden etc.

Thanks guys i will try some flowers to get the lady bugs around.

Is the black flying bug a wasp? Im guessing he is good?

The second photo looks like a black soldier fly to me Zman Except that it is caught in a web
If your system is outside and exposed to weather I'd be careful about spraying anything that could wash in to the system during rains. You can also use sticky traps for aphids.
Two spotted mite and red spider mites are actually the same thing, the female mite changes colour.

Can i try chilli and garlic spray? Would that affect the fish?

Home made chilli and garlic spray should be fine, so is worm juice and seasol sprayed on the foliage which acts as a deterrant and doesn't harm the fish. I personally don't use soaps or oils anywhere near my fish.