Aphid Problem!!

[Marc10edora]

I got a huge aphid problem right now. They are all over my big hibiscus tree and I can't think of a good way to get rid of them without using pesticides. I was thinking of buying some lady bugs right away, but they are poisonous to my cham. I would buy some mantid egg sacks, but by the time they hatch, the hibiscus might be tottally gone. Does anyone else know of a bug that I can buy to get rid of them safely? Please, I need to act fast.

 

[VerteX]

I had a very similar problem with my hibiscus. They were tiny white flies. If you are using this tree for cham purposes, first remove it from the cage. Go to your local gardening store and depending on the size of your tree, purchase a pre-mixed spray bottle or concentrate "Neem oil".

Several applications to both sides of the leaves and the whole tree will give you results in a week.

Although this extract is organic, to be on the safe side do not let chams near during the treatment process.

V

P.S. yes, I love wikipedia.

 

[dodolah]

neem oil worked well.
If you really need the mantis, i think some of the breeders sell the nymphs.

 

[darla]

Here you can look at this page and see if it has anything you can use. I was going to order mites to get rid of other mites. Heard good things about them.
http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/hypoaspis.html

 

[littlevillage]

I had this problem with a rose bush outside ( not a cham plant ). I scraped them off & fed them to my firebelly toad, green tree frogs & house gecko. It was a nice treat for them.

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

Also a natural aphid killers are lacewing. I have thrown a couple in my cages before, but it is actually their larvae that eat aphids. Check out this site: http://www.thebeneficialinsectco.com/green-lacewing-larvae.htm

I couldn't find anywhere that sold them by the hundreds.

A possible solution.

-chris

 

[darla]

http://www.gardensalive.com/search.asp?ss=lacewing&x=7&y=12
I like this place, good prices too.

 

[Marc10edora]

I was going to go to the store today to buy some neem oil, but I got into a car accident over the weekend. Now I have no car to drive. Things keep getting worse every week.....when it rains, it poors.

 

[reptimom]

Another trick for aphids is soapy water. spray the plant down good with warm, soapy water and let sit for about 15 minutes - then rinse, rinse, rinse. You may have to repeat in a week. Good luck!

 

[BocaJan]

Soapy water works for many different kinds of outdoor pests. I have used it with great success when I lived in Colorado and had bugs that lived in the little holes in my brick house.

 

[Marc10edora]

I bought some sticky aphid traps. Hope that will control it. I couldn't find any neem oil at orchard supply. But I did find out that they sell praying mantis egg sacks every year around april. They were all out when I got there. They also sell lady bugs, but I won't be using those.