red bug diagnosis continued

I've got the same problem as you...found out they're called Potato Aphids...and can be pretty destructive in high numbers.

Apparently Thyme oil and Pyrethrins are the most effective organic treatments.

Response 2: Nicole,

You need lady bugs. The lady bug larvae will devour the aphids. I don't know exactly where you would find lady bugs in Norman, but here in southern Oklahoma, as well as in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where I lived before moving here, most nurseries have them in the spring and summer, and some of the large home improvement stores have them as well. You also can order them on line.

Lady bugs will take a few weeks to eat up the aphids, but once you have an established lady bug population, they will take care of the aphids for you forever.

After you release the adult lady bugs (which also eat the aphids), they will reproduce and the larvae will look like little alligator-type critters. The larvae will eat aphids till there are no aphids left. Lady bugs are the least toxic aphid solution.

Good luck,

Dawn

from http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tompests/msg0612274418951.html


Okay, more information will help confirm this. Do you see really small white things on the plant? If you do they should be immature aphids and will confirm this diagnosis. Best bet is to take one and get a microscope on it to see what it looks like or a high powered magnifying glass.

There are so many different types of aphids it is boggling really. Some I saw with really long legs and distinct colors where others look like little green globs that have no distinct legs at all even when rather large.

from http://www.gardenstew.com/about18976.html

sorry! i have to collect this information somewhere and here seems like a good place not to lose it.