Dear All,

This is my first post, so a big hello to you all out there.

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jean.

In message , Jean
writes

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my
phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and
various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any
ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

If you can still find it, and are prepared to use it then the nasty
systemic dimethoate* will probably see them off if you use it wisely.
You may need to alternate with a random contact insecticide and or meths
on a brush.

Unless you are absolutely ruthless woolly aphid once established is
there forever. It is even worse on fruit trees. I won't use dimethoate
on them.

* I think this may have been withdrawn in the UK for domestic use.

Be aware that if it kills woolly aphid effectively it is really bad
stuff. Read the instructions, follow them and wear appropriate
protective gear.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

In message , Jean
writes

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my
phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and
various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any
ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

If you can still find it, and are prepared to use it then the nasty
systemic dimethoate* will probably see them off if you use it wisely.
You may need to alternate with a random contact insecticide and or meths
on a brush.

Unless you are absolutely ruthless woolly aphid once established is
there forever. It is even worse on fruit trees. I won't use dimethoate
on them.

* I think this may have been withdrawn in the UK for domestic use.

Be aware that if it kills woolly aphid effectively it is really bad
stuff. Read the instructions, follow them and wear appropriate
protective gear.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

[snip]
I've found a good blast with the hose every night tends to keep the
blighters down. Make sure you use good pressure, not a fine spreay, to
really soak them.

This won't get rid of them all but did greatly reduce the infestation on my
apple trees last year. Don't know why, but this year we've not had any.
Perhaps word got around ;-).

Paul DS.

"Jean" wrote in message
...

Dear All,

This is my first post, so a big hello to you all out there.

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my
phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and
various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any
ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jean.


--
Jean

We used an old toothbrush and turps/white spirit earlier this year, does a
bang up job but is very time consuming. Cleared an old apple tree in a few
hours, but they haven't resurfaced yet.
Duncan

with regard to using white spirit/meths and a toothpaste?

whats the technique, is it as simple as scrubbing the aphids off the leaves with a toothbrush thats been dipped in meths? what about the fluid that drips onto ground/borders, will it do much damage?

as my plum tree is badly infested and the organic solutions don't really seem to have done much. i believe the tree is suffering aphid leave curl and may have for a few years as garden was overgrown mess when bought last October.

"Tiger303" wrote in message
...

with regard to using white spirit/meths and a toothpaste?

whats the technique, is it as simple as scrubbing the aphids off the
leaves with a toothbrush thats been dipped in meths? what about the
fluid that drips onto ground/borders, will it do much damage?

as my plum tree is badly infested and the organic solutions don't
really seem to have done much. i believe the tree is suffering aphid
leave curl and may have for a few years as garden was overgrown mess
when bought last October.
Tiger303

I've been wondering whether a spray could be used instead of the 'toothbrush'
approach ??
Jenny

I have had good success with a plain (not anti-bac.) washing-up liquid in
water. It is sprayed finely under the leaves (point the nozzle upward). I
cleared a long beach hedge completely this way 4 weeks ago, no return!

Neil
www.conceptgardens.com



"Jean" wrote in message
...

Dear All,

This is my first post, so a big hello to you all out there.

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my
phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and
various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any
ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jean.


--
Jean

"Jean" wrote in message
...

Dear All,

This is my first post, so a big hello to you all out there.

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my
phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and
various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any
ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jean.


--
Jean

On 8/7/04 3:35 PM, in article , "Troglodyte"
wrote:

I have had good success with a plain (not anti-bac.) washing-up liquid in
water. It is sprayed finely under the leaves (point the nozzle upward). I
cleared a long beach hedge completely this way 4 weeks ago, no return!

Neil
www.conceptgardens.com

Just what are wooly aphids...?...Aphids from Siberia where it is really
cold??? If they are aphid type aphids then dish soap...or washing-up
liquid (these are the same thing aren't they?) will work. The soap will
suffocate the aphids and then use a hardish water spray to knock them of the
plant...they will suffocate and still look like they are 'there'! But they
will be dead...I AM assuming that wooly aphids are just aphids...from
Siberia! I am teasing but if wooly aphids are something other than aphids,
please let me know. And I apologize for not knowing...good luck.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC Canada
PS: A 'pistol grip' sprayer will work upside down if you remove the little
tube that runs to the bottom. Save the tube as you may want to spray in the
upright position later...

To reply please remove...yoursocks...

In message , gary davis
writes

"Jean" wrote in message
...

I am having some difficulties getting rid of wooly aphids on my
phyracantha - they are taking over. I have tried pressure hosing and
various chemical preparations but they are still winning the war so any
ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

On 8/7/04 3:35 PM, in article ,
"Troglodyte"
wrote:

I have had good success with a plain (not anti-bac.) washing-up liquid in
water. It is sprayed finely under the leaves (point the nozzle upward). I
cleared a long beach hedge completely this way 4 weeks ago, no return!

Are you sure they were woolly aphids? They mainly sit in cracks in the
bark rather than under leaves - there was a plague of white flies
affecting beech hedges a few weeks back. They would be easily
discouraged.

Just what are wooly aphids...?...Aphids from Siberia where it is really
cold??? If they are aphid type aphids then dish soap...or washing-up
liquid (these are the same thing aren't they?) will work.

It won't even touch them. They are an aphid, but with a specific
adaptation for living on tree bark where they cause wounds to fester and
protect themselves from predators and pesticides with a fabulous waxy
furry white secretion (not unlike mealy bug nests). The only thing that
will get them reliably is a winter tar oil wash or an aggressive
systemic insecticide.

Small numbers can be killed by using a stiff brush dipped in meths. That
is what I use to control them on my fruit trees. But on an ornamental
like pyracantha I would not hesitate to use dimethoate or similar.

will be dead...I AM assuming that wooly aphids are just aphids...from
Siberia! I am teasing but if wooly aphids are something other than aphids,
please let me know. And I apologize for not knowing...good luck.

They are aphids but not as you know them.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

Dear Jean,

I've just posted a reply to another message when I noticed yours. Your problem can be cured with Neem oil as well. It's oil based so it doesnt get repelled by the woolly coating as it works a treat on mealy bug also. My daughter has been using it on her kids head lice - they just seem to fall down dead. No need to use on me though; there's nowhere to hide! The site I've found that sells it is www.gardenknowledge.co.uk
Regards,

Peter