Bugs eating my eggplant and turnips (pics)
 

Anyone know what these critters are? The first three photos are of the bugs eating my eggplant, and the forth is eating my turnips. No other plants are affected.

And how do I get rid of them? (prefer an organic approach) They are doing real damage to my plants.

Thanks!

TomNJ/VA

That is one I am not familiar with, sorry.

Bill

I should note that they are real small, only about 1/8 inch long. I enlarged the photos to show detail.

Tom

The ones on the eggplant are flea beetles. I don't know what the one on the turnip leaf is, but flea beetles also eat turnip leaves.

Flea beatles on the eggplants. Mine are being torn up this year, they look like lace now! You can use DE safely. Be warned its not working on these flea beetles this year, there is so much rain, it washes off and more beetles come. I have accepted its a bad year for my eggplants. I'm leaving them for the beetles now so they won't disturb anything else!


Lindsey

Tom, if you can have it shipped to you in VA. you can use this. Certified Organic.

[URL="http://www.groworganic.com/debug-turbo-qt.html"]http://www.groworganic.com/debug-turbo-qt.html[/URL]

Label in Pdf: [url]http://www.groworganic.com/media/pdfs/pbt620-b.pdf[/url]

Claud

Tom, you may get some ideas from this site:

[URL]http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/mg/gm_tips/fleabeetles.html[/URL]

I'm glad I reread this thread. I was out watering my tomatoes when you posted they were enlarged photos. I get them every year on the lower leaves of my peppers until I mulch them. This year I mulched them immediately and have not had a problem. I used cypress mulch about 2 inches or more thick. Before I used it as a mulch I had to spray with a mild Permethrin spray which is not organic but it is cheap and relatively mild as poisons go.

Bill

contrary to most years i have only had a few this year. i have them in planters this year and they are about 24" off the ground. i recently noticed 2 lady bugs doing their duty. it appears that they are habging around.:yes:;)

jon

Flea beetles...see the hind legs...they are made for jumping (nice pics, btw).
Perhaps Neem Oil would help control them: [URL]http://www.gardensafe.com/products-and-solutions/fungicide/neem-oil-extract-concentrate.aspx[/URL]

Here is a wonderful PDF from Purdue all about flea beetles. I do believe the picture at the beginning of the attachment is your little friend.

tom i stopped growing things that fb destroy. but last year and this year i mulched heavily with shredded leaves while planting things i stopped due to this problem and to my surprise no flea beetle issues last year and so far nothing this year. maybe i broke a cycle and they'll return but so far nothing. i know you use spoiled hay but maybe the leaves don't allow gaps for them to hide in and the hay does? get a landscaper in the fall that has shredded leaves and see if he'll deliver a couple of trucks worth. maybe barter some of that salsa or garlic or whatever?

tom

Thanks all - some very helpful information! Having never used any pesticides or herbicides in nearly 40 years of gardening I would like to avoid this route if possible. I will conduct some experiments tomorrow with a spray of hot pepper and garlic sauce, perhaps with some molasses and vinegar. If this doesn't work I'll give neem oil a shot, and then go from there. Thank goodness they haven't bothered my tomatoes - that would be war!!

TomNJ/VA

I agree with the diagnosis of flea beetles. Excellent pics! I wish you were nearby, I would have you photograph my honeybees! I have taken lots of pics of them, but the camera resolution is not too great.

My neighbor, who is in his 70's, swears by a tea made by soaking cigarette tobacco in about a cup of warm water, them spraying that on the eggplant. Nicotine is a natural insecticide. It always works for him. Might be worth trying.

tom have you considered putting out yellow sticky traps? if you have any yellow plastic grocery bags cut out a piece, cover with thin layer of Vaseline and staple to cardboard on a stick.

tom

My eggplants are far past gone now, due to the flea beetles. And I was thinking about never growing eggplants, b/c it is just so difficult here for me in 7a VA, but then I had a thought, what if I used row covers on my eggplants next year? DO you think that would discourage the flea beetles? Might work for you in Jersey too.

Actually I am growing the eggplant in Virginia at my new farm in Floyd. I have no idea if row covers would work as I never tried them. I sprayed the plants today with a solution of hot pepper sauce, garlic, vinegar, and molasses. It's a shot in the dark but we'll see what happens. If it doesn't kill the little buggers, maybe it will at least make them suffer!

TomNJ/VA

[QUOTE=TomNJ;352212]Actually I am growing the eggplant in Virginia at my new farm in Floyd. I have no idea if row covers would work as I never tried them. I sprayed the plants today with a solution of hot pepper sauce, garlic, vinegar, and molasses. It's a shot in the dark but we'll see what happens. If it doesn't kill the little buggers, maybe it will at least make them suffer!

TomNJ/VA[/QUOTE]

Wow Floyd is right around the corner from me! Hello! I joined a CSA near there called 7 springs Farm; they grow a TON of eggplant out there, organically, without problems. They also have a store for all organic/natural garden supplies at bulk prices...since you are close you should check them out. If you look them up online and email them, they will mail you a catalogue.

Next year I am trying the row covers early, although hopefully, the bugs won't be so bad. Last year I had flea beetles, used some DE and never had any further issues. I grew lots of eggplants. This year, nothing worked and they are all like wispy, lacey hankies now :(

Lindsey

[QUOTE=linzelu100;352517]Wow Floyd is right around the corner from me! Hello! I joined a CSA near there called 7 springs Farm;
Lindsey[/QUOTE]

Hi Lindsey,

Seven Springs farm is just a few miles from us - I bought 300 lbs of limestone from them a few months ago. I am just off Cannady School Rd., drop me a PM if you would like to stop by and see the garden.

My home made spray seems to have reduced the flea beetles, but unfortunately it also killed the eggplant! Oh well, they were probably goners anyway. Too late to start more so I'll pick up some plants up at a local store and try again. Love eggplant parm!

Just bought 30 bales of hay today to finish my mulching, after which I declare the garden "in".

TomNJ/VA

Hi Tom,

You will notice effectiveness with row covers/plant covers thwarting flea beetles. Another deterrent is to plant in grow bags, as the height is difficult for and therefore a deterrent.

Previous posting lists Diatomaceous Earth, and that should be your mulch plan, but as mentioned, rain does reduce effectiveness, so replace after rain.
.
Spinosad has been discussed elsewhere, and though chewing caterpillars are most affected,
I do spray eggplants when I see holes and I think it has some effect, and is OMRI.

Good luck, Randy

[QUOTE=TomNJ;352554]Hi Lindsey,

Seven Springs farm is just a few miles from us - I bought 300 lbs of limestone from them a few months ago. I am just off Cannady School Rd., drop me a PM if you would like to stop by and see the garden.

My home made spray seems to have reduced the flea beetles, but unfortunately it also killed the eggplant! Oh well, they were probably goners anyway. Too late to start more so I'll pick up some plants up at a local store and try again. Love eggplant parm!

Just bought 30 bales of hay today to finish my mulching, after which I declare the garden "in".

TomNJ/VA[/QUOTE]

I definetly will~! We love the floyd area and all the goodies they can grow there :) I need hay for mulch but I have decided my garden is so terrible this year (new house new land) and I have wasted so much money- that I am not going to put much more into it this season. All the saved money has to go to Farmers market food/raised beds. But I usually do buy from Seven Springs. We live at Smith Mountain Lake, so its quite a drive for us, but they always meet us half way in Roanoke.

I have given up on the eggplant. Truth is I only grow them because they are so pretty to look at. We like them fried which is too fattening to eat too often.

New house and land for us as well! Bought the house in October and had a neighbor plow the 50' x 80' garden in November, just in time to plant 400 garlics. My 60 tomato plants look great - that's what is most important! Love the soil and climate here!

TomNJ/VA

[QUOTE=TomNJ;352646]New house and land for us as well! Bought the house in October and had a neighbor plow the 50' x 80' garden in November, just in time to plant 400 garlics. My 60 tomato plants look great - that's what is most important! Love the soil and climate here!

TomNJ/VA[/QUOTE]

I love it here too! I am getting used to all these pests though. In Alabama I never saw so many bugs! But not many pest garden problems! Here...everything wants to eat my garden! Since we moved here I have been liking Southern Exposure Seed Exchange for some seed and my garlic. It's adapted to our environment. But I haven't planted that many. Just tinkering about really...getting comfortable with growing garlic, which I am realizing is quite easy.

Lindsey