camelhive
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Location: Northern California

Are these aphid eggs?

My Broccoli and Cauliflower have been occasionally raided by small insects, I think they're aphids. I sprayed them away with water jets and everything is now under control.

I keep seeing new spots of these gray spots, which look a little like cigarette ash. I just spray them away or wipe them off the leaves. I think these are eggs of aphids. Any idea what these might be, and how come they keep re-appearing?

[img]https://i55.tinypic.com/35hegqd.jpg[/img]

Thanks!

The Helpful Gardener
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Could be...

Reappearing? Because there is still a food source and not enough predators. If you set the table, somebody will sit down eventually. So how do we keep their predators about? By introduction or offering preferred habitat (preferably with a food source).

I like[url=https://www.appliedbio-nomics.com/technical-manual/242-aphidius.pdf]Aphidius[/url] and [url=https://www.planetnatural.com/site/aphid-predator.html]Aphidoletes[/url] for controls, and everyone knows about [url=https://www.thebeneficialinsectco.com/aphid-control-ladybugs.htm]ladybugs[/url], but they have an annoying habit of dining and dashing (and not sticking around for the next instar to hatch out...)

HG

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applestar
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Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

Aphids are born pregnant and they will make little aphids (live birth) as soon as they possibly can. Also, ants will carry aphids around and pasture them out in likely areas. IMO, most often if you see a single aphid reappear where you are SURE you've eradicated them, it's the pesky ants, though aphids themselves do move/travel faster than you might think.

Aphids are masters at pretending to be part of the new growth on plants.

Also, there are winged aphids -- I can't remember if winged ones are all males or females have wings too, though I have the vague idea that winged ones are males and flit around visiting unwinged females.

HG -- I haven't clicked on your links yet. I'll be sure to as soon as I have the chance. 8)

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Sage Hermit
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Location: Finlaysen, MN Coniferous Forest

@: D HG I read that!

Wasp are cool/I love them. got 2 large yellow jackets in my home on my mini taosit inspired garden container who eat only honey during the winter. The are called Princess Latifa and Princess Mononoke.

.... they are my pets.

last year I had one named Queen Latifa. She was my dearest friend. and I let her go in the spring....


camelhive- Great that you sprayed them down. Now as HG has said work on the natural predators to your problem and continue to perfect your maintenance. Great Job! I need to grow broccoli for real.

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applestar
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Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

Aphid Mummy Makers! :-()
I'm so reassured when I see those empty aphid husks in my garden. :twisted:

camelhive
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Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:49 pm
Location: Northern California

Hey,

Thanks all for your replies - I'll keep spraying away those eggs (if they are eggs).

I was amused by the idea of the ants bringing those aphid eggs to create their own farms inside my veg garden! I considered putting some ant traps to get rid of the net, but I suppose it's better having entrepreneurial ants in my yard than spreading out chemicals. Right?

The Helpful Gardener
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AS is right about live bearing being the usual MO for aphids, but they do lay eggs to overwinter, not unlike the stuff you are seeing...

Try the predators and soon you won't have enough to notice...

HG



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