Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE => Topic started by: GSF on July 01, 2014, 10:57:59 am

Title: Garden Pests
Post by: GSF on July 01, 2014, 10:57:59 am
I've noticed this year in my garden's life I've had to deal with more pests than usual. An example is the tomatoe worm. (horned worm). I usually don't see these until late summer. I've already had an issue with them this year. A type of aphids is wrapping my peas up. I'm going to spray this evening when the bee activity dies down. I picked them this morning as well.

A pest new to me is some type of beetle, looks similar to a june bug but about 1/2 to 2/3's the size and a little darker. These guys are eating everything, okra, apple, grape, scuponog, muscidine , and other leaves. To keep them off you'd have to spray about every week.

I had forgot about the kudzu stink bug. I saw a ton of them this spring but then they disappeared. No, I didn't look on the kudzu :-D
Title: Re: Garden Pests
Post by: iddee on July 01, 2014, 11:32:08 am
I use hydrated lime powder. It keeps all the bugs off and doesn't hurt the bees. My berries, grapes, etc. are totally white now. I reapply after each rain.
Title: Re: Garden Pests
Post by: BlueBee on July 02, 2014, 01:39:28 am
Is your ‘new beetle’ a Japanese beetle?  They’re about the size you’re describing.

(http://fyi.uwex.edu/news/files/2012/06/Japanese-Beetle-Picture.jpg)

These things are something else in bad years.  They’ll strip some trees bear in no time.

As for the tomato worms, you ought to try raising a few to adults sometime, they’re pretty cool.  
See this thread:  http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,34597.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,34597.0.html)
Title: Re: Garden Pests
Post by: GSF on July 02, 2014, 10:29:46 pm
That's her Blue! You're right, they are rentless. I forgot to mention the aphid like bugs that literally have my peas covered. I gave them a good dose after I pick the peas.

That's a beautiful butterfly (moth). We used to have the lunar moths around here as well. Their caterpillar's are huge, about 6 or 7 inches. I let the maypops (passion flower) grow freely along my ditch as well as "some" polk sally/salad. Since I started doing that my butterfly population has increased.