[IBC] Aphids and Ants

neon_bikini

I'm having an Aphid infestation. There are a lot of ants around the
area, too. My Aphid treatments have not been fully successful. Do I
need to treat both at once? . Or anothwr question is are the ants
reinfecting my plant with aphids?

Advertisement

Jim Lewis

Dear, um . . . neon-bikini:

Aphid treatments in order of benign-ness.

1. A HARD spray of water on the infected areas (you may need to
tie the tree into its pot before doing this -- and do NOT spray
the soil!)

2. Safers (tm) soap spray (or a home-made soap spray, see
archives) sprayed ON the aphids. DO NOT USE ON TRIDENT MAPLES!

3. Any of the many pesticide sprays containing pyrethrins.

The ants are there because of the aphids, not vice versa.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Iris Cohen

<< are the ants reinfecting my plant with aphids? >>

Yes. Ants are accomplished ranchers. A systemic insecticide like Orthenex will
take care of the problem. Some people say not to use Orthenex on maples, but I
haven't noticed any problem.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

Andrew G

"neon_bikini" <neon_bikini@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:212c9940.0407281024.4dce48c9@posting.google.c om...
> I'm having an Aphid infestation. There are a lot of ants around the
> area, too. My Aphid treatments have not been fully successful. Do I
> need to treat both at once? . Or anothwr question is are the ants
> reinfecting my plant with aphids?

Any systemic pesticide that is designed for killing aphids will do it. That
should definitely get them, with probably only 2 applications at rates/times
indicated on instructions.
You can blast them off with a hose, but be sure that you do it well away
from where your bonsai is, and try avoid blasting them onto the soil, or
they will just crawl back onto bonsai.
Any organic sprays, such as pyrethrum, but be sure to try spray all the
aphids, and follow up sprays will probably be needed.
Just be sure to follow the directions as indicated on specific chemical
purchased.

Good luck

Craig Cowing

Iris Cohen wrote:

> << are the ants reinfecting my plant with aphids? >>
>
> Yes. Ants are accomplished ranchers. A systemic insecticide like Orthenex will
> take care of the problem. Some people say not to use Orthenex on maples, but I
> haven't noticed any problem.
> Iris,
> Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
> "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
> train."
> Robert Lowell (1917-1977)
>

I've used Safer's insecticidal soap on my quaking aspen which has had a couple of
major aphid/ant infestations. It worked quite well. I also use it on my pines for
mealybugs.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a sunset 37

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

IrisCohen@AOL.COM

In a message dated 7/29/04 7:55:55 AM, ccowing@frontiernet.net writes:
> I also use it on my pines for mealybugs.
>
Are you sure those aren't adelgids?
Iris
''It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage.'' -- INDIANA JONES

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Craig Cowing

IrisCohen@AOL.COM wrote:

> In a message dated 7/29/04 7:55:55 AM, ccowing@frontiernet.net writes:
> > I also use it on my pines for mealybugs.
> >
> Are you sure those aren't adelgids?
> Iris
> ''It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage.'' -- INDIANA JONES
>

I have several Tsuga canadiensis (hemlocks) and all are completely free of any
pests. I would think that if they were adelgids that they would go after the
hemlocks first. Anyway, the insecticidal soap works.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Craig Cowing

Nina Shishkoff wrote:

> Craig said:
>
> have several Tsuga canadiensis (hemlocks) and all are completely free
> of any pests. I would think that if they were adelgids that they
> would go
> after the hemlocks first. Anyway, the insecticidal soap works.
>
> I say:
>
> You need to know your enemies one step better: hemlock adelgids will
> go after hemlocks, but other species may prefer other hosts. There
> are larch adelgids, spruce adelgids,pine leaf adelgids, pine *bark*
> adelgids, etc. I have the book "Insects that feed on trees and
> shrubs" by Johnson and Lyon (Comstock Press), which is a good general
> insect book for the plant pathologist. Another good book is "Diseases
> and pests of ornamental plants" by Pascal Pirone (Wiley-Interscience),
> although it is a bit expensive (79.00 when I bought it).
>
> Anyway, an adelgid is just an aphid with a waxy build-up problem.
>
> Nina

I'll pass on the book, thanks. I don't have insect problems here other than aphids
on my quaking aspen, the mealybugs or whatever produce the white stuff on the newer
growth of my pines (which doesn't seem to affect them although I treat it
occasionally), japanese beetles going after my zelkova, and occasional caterpillars
on deciduous trees. I have told Anita that I have very few problems with bugs up
here so her trees should be very happy here, whereas down there she has to deal
with bagworms and a other assorted nasties.

Living in a colder climate has its advantages. Bugs have to winter in the ground
in order to survive. They don't like the cold.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Chris Cochrane++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++