Greenhouse pest

[JennieAtkinson]

I've picked up a greenhouse pest, which I can't seem to identify. I assumed it was whitefly but there are no swarms of flies and even putting yellow stickies everywhere has not resulted in any of them being attached.

It has affected the fuschias and pansies, I've nto noticed it on any veg so far. There are extremely tiny little white things lying on the soil under the plant with a few very small egg like things on the underside of the leaves. The affected leaves curl downwards and shrivel although stay green. The plants begin to look a bit sickly.

I tried to take a picture but they are SO small you couldn't see them.

Any ideas?

[noidea]

I had that last week and after much to do, not finding anything at allllll for ages I found one enornous batch of some kind of aphid hiding under a leaf, perfectly happy!

I did read on something that there is a particular kind that sheds skin and you find tiny tiny white bodies around underneath the plants. They almost looked like little bit's of fluff.

I had to pick them all off by hand but haven't seen any since.

(I am such a newbie though so it's probably nothing like what you are talking about!!! lol)

C

[Alice]

Jennie, it sounds like whitefly to me. That stuff can be intractible if left, so ...............
Interesting to see what others think.

[Protea]

Sounds like aphid skins to me - can look similar to whitefly, but as you've discovered - don't fly!

have a search for tiny aphids hiding in corners. I can't think what else it might be

[rustylady]

Jennie, the little white bits lying on the compose are "egg shells". What you have infesting your plants are greenfly (aphids). They may be hiding, or very small, but they are surely there.

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks for all the advice. Had another look tonight and I can't see anything flying around at all! Certainly the little white bits lying on the compost are like shells and there appear to be tonight some little things on the back of a couple of leaves. These are the same plants (all fuschias) which have rather crumpled looking leaves.

I had a look in the plant centre today at treatments, but they all looked rather unorganic. Can anybody advise what is the best way to treat the problem.

[noidea]

It sounds exactly like what I had.

I sprayed everything with soapy water, then when I fond them under the leave (finallllllly after hours of looking) I sprayed them with an Organic all in one pest thingy....

They all stuck there, though clearly dead so I picked them off by hand.

No use though I suppose if you can't find them.

C

[Flummery]

I think they are cast off skins, as someone said earlier. I thought aphids had live young (and no fellas required!)

[Protea]

I think they are cast off skins, as someone said earlier. I thought aphids had live young (and no fellas required!)

APhids have the ability to produce live young and eggs, depending on the stage in thier lifecycle (and what generation they are), some will also shed their skin as they grow bigger - don't ask me why!

I've had the dead aphid skin on fushia's before - and also tomotoes in hanging baskets, i'm not sure which species it is though.

Organic solutions - soapy water, as prev suggested. Derris may give you partial control, as would a garlic type spray (but finding it in a garden centre may be challenging).

[JennieAtkinson]

I'm just gathering the fairy liquid and spray bottle and off to do the business!

Thanks everyone!

[Alice]

Jennie, on another thread somebody suggested Neem oil as an organic control for aphids. You might want to google for it.

[JennieAtkinson]

Smile for the Camera Please!

Well I think it is definately greenfly. When I took a couple of leaves indoors to photograph to show you all, one of them wasn't camera shy! The little spot in the second photograph between the leaves photograph is definately a greenfly. You can even see his legs!

[Flummery]

Her legs? Aren't they all girlies? Letting the side down!

[noidea]

Mines are back again!!!

Little sods!



C

[JennieAtkinson]

On the basis that it is greenfly (although I have not seen any flying or crawling around), I sprayed with a soapy solution. That didn't seem to work so I picked off some of the worst affected leaves (all curled under and growing in distorted shapes) and sprayed with an organic spray for greenfly.
Not sure that is working either. The last four days I've had all the windows and door open in the greenhouse, so it has been quite cool.

The question is - how worried should I be?

Do I need to try and eradicate it completely, or do I just try and keep it under some sort of control and live with it?

I've never actually had a problem with any major pest in the polytunnel, so this is rather new ground for me.