aphids n black fly

[hoof]

hello folks,
got an outdoor crop doing well apart from both aphid and black fly. I had the same problem last year and figured the amount of infestation was ok I also had no desire to put chemicals on them. the smoke was good.
This year though the amount of them is much more and its only early and i am not sure if they are going to damage the plant, Do they really do much harm ?
whats the non chemical way of getting rid ?...apart from blasting each group with water.....
The daylight became less a week or so ago, couple of days later the plants showed a couple of males ....killed...rest females....... makes me happy...and yet the light is still approx 15 -16 hours. thats all for now...any help appriciated....

Take care
HOOF

hoof Reviewed by hoof on 06-30-2006. aphids n black fly hello folks, got an outdoor crop doing well apart from both aphid and black fly. I had the same problem last year and figured the amount of infestation was ok I also had no desire to put chemicals on them. the smoke was good. This year though the amount of them is much more and its only early and i am not sure if they are going to damage the plant, Do they really do much harm ? whats the non chemical way of getting rid ?...apart from blasting each group with water..... The daylight Rating: 5

[Sabrinaleena]

Get some ladybugs! They eat aphids like candy. If you still want to go chem free, that is. Buy up as many ladybugs as you can and you can get them on ebay from any of the gardening stores on there. Or online nurseries sell them. Get some praying mantis eggs while you are at it. They dont eat ladybugs but will eat your aphids and white flies as well.

[stinkyattic]

Yeah, what she said.

Also pyrethrins work well on flying pests.

To control reproduction of thrips and whiteflies, water some predatory nematodes into the soil. They attack the pests when they burrow into the dirt to lay eggs.

[hoof]

sorry for the delay in replying i appriciate your time, will give the introduction of eating pests a try although lately it seems to have cleared a lot......like i say they have started to bud now so dont want to get the chemicals out

thanks

[zlessley]

definitely get some lacewing larvae... my greenhouse was INFESTED with aphids and whitefly, i put some of those in there and BAM, in a week, not an aphid or whitefly in sight. Since then, my plants have taken off and are growin like (pardon the pun) weeds!!