Losing the War against Thrips and Other Invaders

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Losing the War against Thrips and Other Invaders

Thursday, 23 Jun 11 Rainy 26°C / 79°F

Thrips seem to be steadily invading and sickening more and more of my gardens.
Any suggestions for organic- or at least, relatively non toxic, controls of these vile pests?

I hope I won’t have to use any broad spectrum pesticides.
It’s bad for the bees and also can cause health concerns.

But on top of that, there’s also a ladybug (aka ladybird beetle) hatchery – dozens of ladybeetle larvae and pupae, in process of becoming ladybugs, in Kitchen Garden’s Bouquet Dill plant right now!

Also having problems with other invaders. Birds, Snails, Slugs, and even Trespassers.

This entry is about

	Day 28 Moss Rose Under Attack-Thrips Portulaca oleracea
	Day 11 Red Beans, Archiving (Lifecycle End, Harvest Over) Budding
	Day 22 Sweet pepper 'Sweet korean, aka Shishito'- Dead! (Thrips and Mites) Capsicum annuum var. annuum (Grossum Group)
	Day 28 Pepper, bell Rescued- (Now Fruiting)! Capsicum annuum var. annuum (Grossum Group) Budding
	Day 8 Corn, Mixed is Setting Fruit! Under Attack-Ants,Mealybugs
	Day 42 Petunia 'Black Velvet' -Under attack (Thrips and Snails) Petunia Moved
	Day 36 Bean California Blackeye 46- Archiving (Lifecycle End, Harvest Over) Phaseolus vulgaris Blooming

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Comments

Fhaith wrote:
“http://www.ghorganics.com/page9.html

Try this site – they have a lot of neat tips.

Posted on 24 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
TangoFlowers wrote:
Cool Fhaith, that site sure is full of options. Ty :)

Posted on 24 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
Dogs wrote:
Ah some remedies from my little world, lady birds. I could be wrong but unless they are orange in colour, most lady birds are beneficial, preying on other bugs. Snails and slugs, beer traps work a treat but too much beer may attract those other problems, trespassers. Get a saucer and make the lip level with the surrounding ground. Fill the suacer up with beer and watch the sanils, slugs come to their demise. Trespassers…12 gauge with bird shot or St Peter works a treat. Or a recording of an aggressive dog barks and snarling hidden in the bushes.

Posted on 24 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
TangoFlowers wrote:
TY Dogs! :)
We have giant African land snails, and giant slugs too, here. See pics at these links-
http://www.life.com/image/50797175
http://spanish.alibaba.com/product-free-img/giant-african-land-snail-helicaron-snail-noonday-snail-oahu-tree-snail-tree-snail-wood-snail-orchard-snail-glass-snail-and-many-116837028.html
Beer traps or the teetotalers alternative, brewers yeast traps, apparently just add to these animals’ festivities. They are much too big to actually drown in a saucer or empty tuna tin of beer.
So Ive been hand picking them and dispatching them, especially during wet weather. But a few always seem to come in after I’m asleep.

Ladybirds aka ladybugs are already here in good numbers, both in larval stage and in pupating stage in my garden- See my Kitchen Garden Dill plant. Thats why I dont want to use broad spectrum insecticides. It’d mess up my ladybird beetles :)

Unluckily, firearms as a deterrent are illegal where I live unless the trespasser comes into ones actual home by breaking and entering, or otherwise acts like a danger to ones life- so the 12 gauge wont work in this setting.
But perhaps playing a sound recording of one being loaded or armed might! The recording of aggressive dog sounds is worth a try too, I suppose. We do have a dog who barks but his bark is somewhat unimpressive.
hes mostly harmless- ankle biter at best, heinz 57 mutt who weighs maybe 24 lbs.

Posted on 24 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
Dogs wrote:
No worries Tango. Dam big land snails and giant slugs…..hmmm perhaps a suacer or tuna can wont work, what about a keg? And if you’re going to tape the sound of a 12g being loaded (which is impressive) may as well go all out and get the sound of a 50 cal being locked and loaded, maybe evern a short burst. And dont under estimate the power of little ankle biters. I saw one kill an aggressive german shepard and this little bloke was no bigger than a dash hound. The shepard grabbed him chewed him up and choked on him. LOL Seriously though, all the best with the prtoblems and look forward to other peoples solutions or one that you find works. Cheers

Posted on 24 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
Sarahgw wrote:
I use blue sticky traps which attracts them and sticks them to paper. Lady Bugs and Green lace wings will feed on thrips. Additionally try misting plants because thrips don’t like moisture. A pyrethrum/rotenone spray will nail thrips as a last resort.

Posted on 24 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
marysgardeningendeavors wrote:
Try cutting the top off a beer can and sinking it, or an empty tin can of tomato sauce or some other deep one. If it’s half empty or so even a big snail will have to go inside to get the booze and it will make it easier for them to get drunk and fall in and not crawl back up… :)
Have you tried leaving a board in the most nail & slug ridden place a couple of days and then turning it over and smashysmashy everyone?

Posted on 25 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)
browndog wrote:
I feel your pain TangoFlowers. I don’t have thrips but the snails are going to town in my garden! I’ve read about the sluggo iron phosphate based bait – but i’m hesitant to use that.

Does anybody know if commercial organic growers use the iron phosphate based bait?

Posted on 25 Jun 11 (almost 2 years ago)