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Ontario

Any help would be greatly appreciated.....My Garlic leaves are getting destroyed by this litte bug.....very very tiny, it appears the young may be light orange in colour and the adults are dark brown to black...I have posted some pics in my diary......

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=105264

If anyone has any idea what these little buggers are...and how to save my leaves....please let me know....

Thanks....Bryan

5/19/2009 2:07:24 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Looks like aphids, Use a hort oil or pesticide for the aphids.

I would bet that you see ants too, ants actually transport them and then eat the secretion they give off. Get rid of them too.

5/19/2009 3:34:08 PM

Ontario

Thanks Tom....I don't think so....I have dealt with Aphids...and there are no ants.....

But on a good note....I have a crop specialist coming to my place tomorrow to take specimens and plant samples....
I called in a garlic specialist I know...and he put me in touch with a Phd specializing in this stuff.....lucked out there totally....will update when I know further...

But they are bugs...and destroying my crop fast....and after she takes the specimens....I may have to blast them with...........kafjhaos......iuoasjfjsjhjfjk..wait Houston......hjgjgdgf.....your....qewrfk;lsd.....breaking up;.;s,fm;fkja;a.................................................................................................end of transmission....cheers from Ontario.....Go GVGO....

5/19/2009 4:42:27 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

That looks like a thrip larvae to me.

Please let us know what your specialist says.

5/19/2009 9:36:40 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Now that I've seen the other pics, they sure look like aphids.

5/19/2009 9:42:55 PM

Ontario

Will do Duane......I sent some pictures of early damage to a few other specialists who thought it may be onion thrip. But they are more elongal in shape and whiter. I am very curious to know for sure...and hope this major crop destroying pest is found out and can help eliminate this problem for other growers.
I will update after she has looked at my patch...Cheers

5/19/2009 9:47:20 PM

Ontario

I think they are way to small to be aphids....the photos are blown way up....these little suckers are about the size of a grain of sand......

5/19/2009 9:55:24 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

I'm pretty sure those are aphids but unless your seeing them by the thousands I doubt that is what may be hurting your crop. If your plants are looking bad I would be more apt to believe that your problem or pest is in the root area of the plant.

5/19/2009 9:59:45 PM

Ontario

At this point I am going to let the specialist take some samples...that way we can look at the root systems...she is going to take 5 or 6 plants, so we will have a good look. I have had problems with bulb and stem nematode, but this is way to early and the damage is progessing to fast. They are not there in the thousands, but if you look closeley you can see them moving around to the white spots, eating the top layer of the leaves. I will send you a few more pics from last week...thanks for your thoughts....

5/19/2009 10:13:55 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

neem oil and insectacidle soap work great.

5/20/2009 9:05:09 AM

Ontario

Yeah that's what I have been told...I have some ready to go, as soon as we extract the specimens.....tonight.....a whole new diet......

5/20/2009 9:19:54 AM

Ontario

Well....the bug is a.... garden spring tail.....this is causing the white spotting...I will post some pics and more info when I get it from Jennifer, the crop specialist, in case anyone is interested......

The bigger problem.....my nightmare here over the past two years.....Bulb and Stem Nematode....devestaing to Music variety here is Ontario..... my crop is basically doomed again, I lost over 20% last year, and moved location, bought new seed stoack and still have the problem. So we have come up with a plan, using my garlic as an experiment, and hope to learn something more about this pest over the season here at my patch....Good Luck to all you Garlic Growers....Bryan

5/20/2009 12:44:04 PM

Ohio

BP, here is a site that tells you what to use to get rid of them critters

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG124

5/20/2009 3:58:12 PM

Ontario

Thanks Brooks...neem oil and insecticidal soap will rid these litte buggers....but my bigger problem still exists, and is not an easy solution. I am resigned to the fact that this year will be another lost crop, but with Jennifer's help this season will be dedicated to the whole garilc community in Ontario, and any other provinces or states that have to deal with bulb and stem nematode. Hopefully we will all learn something about managing this highly destructive pest. I plan on planting hot mustard in a new area in July for my 2010 garlic, and will hopefully get clean seed stock from a guaranteed source. The battle and learning curve continues.......after all...it is only gardening.....in the grand scheme of things....this is just a minor problem....cheers....

5/20/2009 9:34:22 PM

Greenville,Pa.

BPMailey, shoot me an e-mail. I have some other questions about garlic that I would like to ask.
[email protected]
subject line: garlic
Thanks.

5/21/2009 10:21:55 AM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Thank You for the update BPM!
I grow about 350 pounds of garlic each year so I like to keep up on the problems others have with the crop in case I have similar problems.

5/22/2009 6:22:33 AM

Ontario

I have an article that Jennifer just wrote on the springtail and nemetode issue....if anyone is interested, which I offered up in the Ohter Gardening Message Board.

As well does anyone who grows garlic know anything about fighting the nemetode issue once you are in the growing season. I read that planting dwarf french marigolds will help, something to do with the roots.....

5/22/2009 6:36:06 AM

ExtremeVegetables.com

I'd be interested.

I have searched high and low, looked at every natural defense including beneficial nematodes and can find nothing for the control of these pest during the growing season.
Each year I do soak my cloves in alcohol then a kelp solution. The alcohol kills and pest, eggs or larvae, keeping them from being replanted with the seed each year.
Crop rotation.
Soil vernalization has been reported to be very effective.

I keep my garlic organic but if faced with an extreme problem I might consider and pesticide containing imidichloprid or equivilent, but that would only be used as a last ditch effort to save seed for the following year and kill off as many of the little buggers as possible.

I'd also suggest planting bulbils from each variety you have in virgin soil for future seed. It doesn't take much area the first year to grow out the bulbils for seed.

5/22/2009 7:05:30 AM