Aphids on Cucumbers, help please
 

Hello Everyone,

APHIDS

What used to be a simple foe is beating me up.

I’ve been using a regimen of soap mixed with DE as my
go to knock-down spray every 3 days in the evenings.
At every 3rd application, I add Met 52 and Spinosad to the mix (to hit other players that like to party in my garden too).

While controlling aphid numbers somewhat, what truly
slowed them down was the combo of very high temperatures
and ladybugs, hoverflies, lacewings, and probably some
assassin bugs pitched in too.

I purposely held off on the broad insecticides I have on hand, aim was to
1) help the pretty pollinators that visit me
2) avoid eliminating the aphids natural predators
3) realizing pyrethroids are useless against our local aphid
populations (they handle 3-4x the recommended dose with ease).

I was able to evict them from my peppers plants, but now
they’ve established themselves on my cucumbers.
I’m trying to squeeze one last crop in before the weather
turns and these little sap sucking creatures aren’t helping.

Two nights ago I applied the more complete mix of soap + DE +
Spinosad +Met 52 and this AM I noticed their numbers
exploding, especially the darker ones.

I have Neem Oil on order, and am itching to throw something
at them to slow them down.

Aphid colors present include very dark green
(dominates population), dark green, light orange, light green,
very light green, transparent, chartreuse.

[B][SIZE="3"]Any recommendations on garlic, superhot pepper
mixes, or any other witches’ brew to [I]beat-slow down [/I]aphids? [/SIZE][/B]

[SIZE="3"]Many thanks.[/SIZE]

The most efficient that I tried was some store bought rapeseed oil emulsion. It didn't say what emulsifier it used, but was 3% oil, which is quite high and can slightly burn stuff.
I have heard nettle 'tea' is efficient and used around here, I never tried it because it's supposed to smell quite bad.

Mineral oil.

[url]http://www.naturallivingideas.com/12-organic-ways-get-rid-aphids/[/url]

Good article about essential oils.

Thank you my people, I have some of these things in hand.

mixed 50:50 mineral:canola and added 3 crushed cloves + 2 sliced TS Choc


I've started making a garlic infusion with mineral oil, and another one with canola (rapeseed). A good friend who enjoys my tomatoes has ample quantities of essential oils, so it might be time for a trade, Belcebu for oils.

ugly party
 

this is what's happening

the dark ones dominate other leaves, and it seems each variety of cucumber has a particular profile of bugs on it.

Calypso the most affected (pictured), followed by Adam and Socrates, the good news for Diva fans is that it's relatively resistant.

those are not just aphids. You also have white flies. Try alcohol diluted in water for a changed. Those it works for me on aphids and scales. Goodluck!

I can tell from looking at the picture that you are not using a sufficient amount of DE. The leaves should be coated with a fine light powdery film.

Since I have used the Permethrin, DE and Dawn mix I have been able to control all my aphid problems. It does not control the whiteflies as well but it will slow them down. I used an oil spray on them also but it lasted no longer than the other mix even withe Permethrin added. For whiteflies on my cucumbers which I have in abundance I keep a sprayer with just Dawn and Permethin in it and spray them every two to three days making sure to blast the undersides of the leaves. This kills the ones it contacts but the problem will return in a few days so I just spray again. I think they will be here til colder weather moves in.

Bill

[QUOTE=TessSR;664713]those are not just aphids. You also have white flies. Try alcohol diluted in water for a changed. Those it works for me on aphids and scales. Goodluck![/QUOTE]

I think the white things are just remains of flying aphids, not necessarily white flies.
What alcohol concentration are you using?

Spent a good 2 hours hitting everything with a 50:50 mineral:canola + superhots + garlic, at 15-20 ml per gallon, + soap + DE.

It was caustic to breathe in and said hello when it hit my eyes, so the superhots definitely contributed.

This AMs inspection revealed they survived (the plants) and the aphids numbers decreased. I'll hit everything tonight, and I mean EVERYTHING.

No more honeydew for anyone.

[QUOTE=TessSR;664713]those are not just aphids. You also have white flies. Try alcohol diluted in water for a changed. Those it works for me on aphids and scales. Goodluck![/QUOTE]

No Tess, not whiteflies. Those are aphid mummies.

Can you get Diazinon in Mexico?

Worth

yes I can Worth, I buy it in Liters, as it's my dad's favorite insecticide and he has an ongoing battle with ants. Pathologists would love a liver sample.

It seems they take it in stride too. I don't know how they do it, I guess it's the 5 decades of constant exposure.


And while there are some whiteflies, their numbers are negligible due to the Met52. Those were carcasses in the 1st pic.

After dose 2 with a heavier DE and oil presence, the cops have definitely closed the party down there's just a few sap boozers that refuse to leave.

I had to use it once this year on my grapes and it was way over what the recommended dose was.
But by darn it killed what ever it was sucking on the new leaves.
Then I tried kerosene and mineral oil on some other stuff.
So far the aphids are running from one okra top to another with me chasing them.

[QUOTE=Gerardo;664948]yes I can Worth, I buy it in Liters, as it's my dad's favorite insecticide and he has an ongoing battle with ants. Pathologists would love a liver sample.

It seems they take it in stride too. I don't know how they do it, I guess it's the 5 decades of constant exposure.


And while there are some whiteflies, their numbers are negligible due to the Met52. Those were carcasses in the 1st pic.

After dose 2 with a heavier DE and oil presence, the cops have definitely closed the party down there's just a few sap boozers that refuse to leave.[/QUOTE]

And YES, pathologists would love it.

Not allowed to be sold in NY State

[url]https://www.google.com/search?q=diazinon+in+New+York+State&hl=en&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDx7eDjqrWAhUH8IMKHYntBTwQ_AUICSgA&biw=1402&bih=790&dpr=1[/url]

So Worth,why is TX still selling it with all that's bad about it now known?.

I didn't take the time to go to EXTOXNET to check it out as well.

And yes,I do remember my father using it for something on our farm,many decades ago.

Carolyn,whose liver seems to be intact and functioning OK, not so much some other body parts and organs though.:)