A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Pest Control

Does Anyone know what these are and how to get rid of them in my Aquaponics Grow Beds?

I get them every year by the millions in my soil garden. I have used chemicals in the past to get rid of them.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron Thompson on January 20, 2013 at 4:47pm

No idea about Dan's bugs but let me add in - any suggestions for slugs?

I've tried lids of beer and slug poison with no results. They are in my vertical baskets and I have no idea what I can use on them that won't harm the fish or bacteria. The best I've done is pick them by hand but that is hit and miss. They are doing a number on my plants.

Permalink Reply by Phil Kabza on January 22, 2013 at 8:29pm

Ron,

With apologies to Paul Simon, here's "There Must be THIRTEEN Ways To Stop Your Sluggies:" http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=627 Stop back by after you've tried all thirteen and we'll find some more.

Ron Thompson said:

No idea about Dan's bugs but let me add in - any suggestions for slugs?

I've tried lids of beer and slug poison with no results. They are in my vertical baskets and I have no idea what I can use on them that won't harm the fish or bacteria. The best I've done is pick them by hand but that is hit and miss. They are doing a number on my plants.

Permalink Reply by Izzy on January 26, 2013 at 8:41am

Those appear to be assassin bugs. These are beneficial insects and should NOT be killed.

Permalink Reply by Mark Sylvain on February 14, 2013 at 6:42pm

Do they have ayellow stripe?

Permalink Reply by Dan Ponton on February 17, 2013 at 6:33pm

No yellow strip. after looking around on the internet I believe they are black aphids. I use water spray but they come back and are laying eggs. I need to look for a home remedy.

Permalink Reply by Mark Sylvain on February 17, 2013 at 6:57pm

I used to get something similar called the eastern lubber grass hopper. When small they dont have the stripe but as they mature they get a yellow stripe down their back. They cluster when small and eat everything when they get larger, over 2in., I had to manually destroy them when they were clustered. They seperate as they mature. I've never seen them in my APG though, they tend to lay eggs in soil. Maybe garlic, dish soap, onion and red pepper mix. Probably wont kill them but maybe break up relationships and prevent breeding! Nobody likes there mate to have bad breath and the runs. Good luck.

Permalink Reply by M D Fowler on February 21, 2013 at 6:50pm

i had something like that in my grow bed last year. i got rid of them with diatomaceous earth in a fire extinguisher. i'm not sure if i should have killed them or not but it got rid of them with out hurting the fish. just do it when it's dry and leave it dry for a day or two.

diatomaceous earth kills everything with exoskeleton

Permalink Reply by David B on May 20, 2013 at 7:52am

I wonder if the fish would love to eat em if they were scooped up & dropped back in with the fish?

Permalink Reply by Frank Scanlan on June 10, 2013 at 10:21am

M D Fowler said:

i had something like that in my grow bed last year. i got rid of them with diatomaceous earth in a fire extinguisher. i'm not sure if i should have killed them or not but it got rid of them with out hurting the fish. just do it when it's dry and leave it dry for a day or two.

diatomaceous earth kills everything with exoskeleton

Permalink Reply by Frank Scanlan on June 10, 2013 at 10:34am

I bought some Safer's brand of Diatomaceous Earh "Bed Bug, Ant & Crawling Insect Killer." I was on a Blog with SAFER and was told the MSDS of this product recommends that you keep it out of water sources.. Are they just covering their "Product Liability" or is there a difference in the various diatomaceous earth products?