White bugs... millions of them - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T20:01:13Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/white-bugs-millions-of-them?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A624249&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI use Steinernema feltiae. Th…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-20:4778851:Comment:6377412016-12-20T14:03:04.058ZJohn Stevensonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohnStevenson
<p>I use <strong><strong><i>Steinernema feltiae.</i></strong></strong> They are effective and are the recommended greenhouse pest control nematode. They are an excellent choice to control f<span>ungus gnats in the system.</span></p>
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<p>Steinernema feltiae are also used to control:</p>
<p><span>Beet Armyworm, Black Cutworm, Cabbage Maggot, Codling Moth, Corn Earworm, Cucumber Beetle, Fruit Fly, Humpbacked Flies, Leafminer, Onion Maggot, Pill Bug, Rasberry Crown Borer, Sclarid, Shore Fly,…</span></p>
<p>I use <strong><strong><i>Steinernema feltiae.</i></strong></strong> They are effective and are the recommended greenhouse pest control nematode. They are an excellent choice to control f<span>ungus gnats in the system.</span></p>
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<p>Steinernema feltiae are also used to control:</p>
<p><span>Beet Armyworm, Black Cutworm, Cabbage Maggot, Codling Moth, Corn Earworm, Cucumber Beetle, Fruit Fly, Humpbacked Flies, Leafminer, Onion Maggot, Pill Bug, Rasberry Crown Borer, Sclarid, Shore Fly, Sweet Potato Weevil, Subterranean Termite, Thrips, Ticks, and Tobacco Cutworm.</span></p>
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<p><span>I hope this helps. </span></p> I haven't noticed anything in…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-19:4778851:Comment:6375852016-12-19T21:50:47.581ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>I haven't noticed anything in the grow bed media yet. The fliers aren't taking over yet. What kind of nematodes did you use? </p>
<p>I haven't noticed anything in the grow bed media yet. The fliers aren't taking over yet. What kind of nematodes did you use? </p> Great news.tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-19:4778851:Comment:6377392016-12-19T17:47:59.754ZJohn Stevensonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohnStevenson
<p>Great news.</p>
<p>Great news.</p> Fan working somewhat , dunks…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-19:4778851:Comment:6376892016-12-19T17:29:57.108ZRobert Cionnihttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobertCionni
<p>Fan working somewhat , dunks helped a little, nematodes did the trick. After 2 days almost no gnats!</p>
<p>Fan working somewhat , dunks helped a little, nematodes did the trick. After 2 days almost no gnats!</p> OK new year same problem but…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-19:4778851:Comment:6378222016-12-19T02:05:24.333ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>OK new year same problem but this time I'm on top of the fungus knats. Hopefully I won't have the white bug infestation again. Vacuuming up the fliers and soap spraying the plants. </p>
<p>OK new year same problem but this time I'm on top of the fungus knats. Hopefully I won't have the white bug infestation again. Vacuuming up the fliers and soap spraying the plants. </p> We are having a similar probl…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-12-17:4778851:Comment:6377322016-12-17T20:01:58.872ZRobert Cionnihttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobertCionni
<p>We are having a similar problem with fungus gnats in our indoor aquaponics system. Have added mosquito dunks with limited success. Will add the Steinernema Felita nematodes today. We are hopeful this will help.</p>
<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>John Stevenson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/white-bugs-millions-of-them#4778851Comment624398"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p><font face="Calibri" size="3">This winter one of my systems was invaded…</font></p>
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<p>We are having a similar problem with fungus gnats in our indoor aquaponics system. Have added mosquito dunks with limited success. Will add the Steinernema Felita nematodes today. We are hopeful this will help.</p>
<p><br/> <br/> <cite>John Stevenson said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/white-bugs-millions-of-them#4778851Comment624398"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p><font size="3" face="Calibri">This winter one of my systems was invaded by fungus gnats. I applied beneficial nematodes to the gravel bed and hung sticky tape in a few locations. I also used a spray bottle containing my aquaponics water on the plant leaves and a hand held vacuum to suck up any of the flyers. As I said, it was a bad infestation.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Calibri">The bugs are completely under control now and fortunately all my plants recovered. My experience is with home based systems using permaculture principles. If you are dealing with a large commercial facility, I would think this is too much work. I understand there are several solution solutions available (see what I did there). I have never tried any organic spray controls. I do not know how they would impact the fish and plants, so I can’t personally recommend any.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Calibri">I was planning on testing a homemade fan trap like you would make for mosquitoes. But as I said the problem is under control and has not come back. To make a fan trap, you use a standard box fan and attach a mesh screen onto the back of it with magnets. Turn it on. The bugs get sucked into the mesh. Collect them, stick them in the freezer, and feed them to your fish. You have turned a problem into free fish food and you used no chemicals in the process.</font></p>
<p><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">I would love an update when you tackle the bug problem. Let me know if you try the fan. I almost want to release some bugs to test it myself</font></font><font size="3" face="Calibri">.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Calibri">Thanks for sharing.</font></p>
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</blockquote> Those are definitely springta…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-25:4778851:Comment:6249252016-02-25T13:44:54.588ZAlex Veidelhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/AlexVeidel
<p>Those are definitely springtails, so rest easy. That said, there sure were a TON of them....hopefully the fish enjoyed their snack ;)</p>
<p>Those are definitely springtails, so rest easy. That said, there sure were a TON of them....hopefully the fish enjoyed their snack ;)</p> Update: I flooded the bed se…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-23:4778851:Comment:6246822016-02-23T03:55:32.809ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>Update: I flooded the bed several times Saturday and scooped out as many bugs as I could. Yesterday I flooded it again and scooped out some more. Today I flooded it and there were no bugs. Looks like it worked. Also the fish really seemed to like them.</p>
<p>Update: I flooded the bed several times Saturday and scooped out as many bugs as I could. Yesterday I flooded it again and scooped out some more. Today I flooded it and there were no bugs. Looks like it worked. Also the fish really seemed to like them.</p> I decided that no matter what…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-21:4778851:Comment:6246622016-02-21T19:39:02.332ZJeff Shttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JeffSullivan
<p>I decided that no matter what they are there are too many of them so I flooded the bed and scooped out most of them. Turns out it wasn't that hard once I removed the recently planted seedlings. They were also starting to gather up on the plants. Check out the flooded pics. If you zoom on them you can get a good look at the bugs.</p>
<p>I decided that no matter what they are there are too many of them so I flooded the bed and scooped out most of them. Turns out it wasn't that hard once I removed the recently planted seedlings. They were also starting to gather up on the plants. Check out the flooded pics. If you zoom on them you can get a good look at the bugs.</p> Hi Jeff,
That is a great ques…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2016-02-21:4778851:Comment:6248192016-02-21T02:08:35.558ZJohn Stevensonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohnStevenson
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Hi Jeff,</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">That is a great question. I have not personally seen nematodes recommended by anyone for Springtail control. The popular method of beneficial insect control for Springtails has been Rove Beetle (Dalotia coriaria, Atheta coriaria) and Fungus Gnat Predator (Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Hypoaspis miles). I have reached out to an expert to be 100 % sure they…</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Hi Jeff,</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">That is a great question. I have not personally seen nematodes recommended by anyone for Springtail control. The popular method of beneficial insect control for Springtails has been Rove Beetle (Dalotia coriaria, Atheta coriaria) and Fungus Gnat Predator (Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Hypoaspis miles). I have reached out to an expert to be 100 % sure they will be safe, but I have not heard back from them.</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">I will be conducting my own experiments this spring so I will have some personal experience if the information isn’t available elsewhere. Either way I will let you know what I find out.</font></p>
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