Horrible lupin pest

tootallulah

This year I have the dreaded lupin aphid on pretty much all of my lupin plants, there seems to be no long term solution that I can find and the aphids live in the soil and climb back up next year. Has anyone tried nematodes, do they have to be pest specific? I am hosing the blighters off at present as the plants are flowering and full of bees but they are really infested and the alternative seems to be dig them up and stop growing lupins.

Ken68

You could try systemic fungicide.

Badrick

Ken68 wrote: »

You could try systemic fungicide.

Think they meant systemic insecticide.

The following link explains why nematodes would be ineffective for aphids.

Is there any effect of nematodes on aphids

Bunnygirl

I had never heard of them before but this year my plants are covered I go round killing them as I won't use a spray due to bees being more important. Going to try a soap spray on them as someone said that worked.

Ken68

Thanks Badrick, yes, was thinking of the systemic fungicide/insecticide. Rose something.

peter_the_piper

Try moving some peanut feeders to where the lupins are to encourage blue tits etc to snack whilst waiting.

tootallulah

Thanks all, it looks like hosing down will continue. I don't use bug killers, my neighbours have bees and I wouldn't anyway (at least I don't think I would). Apparently there are no native predators at all and the aphids taste bitter so it is not likely one will develop. If they are as bad next year I will need to out the lupins. There is some belief that Russell lupins are less affected, so I will also grow some of them.

theoretica

Bunnygirl wrote: »

I had never heard of them before but this year my plants are covered I go round killing them as I won't use a spray due to bees being more important. Going to try a soap spray on them as someone said that worked.

I use soap spray - dish detergent at about bubble mix strength. It needs to soak the aphids, no use spraying the top of the leaves when they are hiding underneath, but I spray in the evening when the bees have gone and have lots of dead aphids the next day. Apparently it kills aphids by blocking the pores in their skin.

TheGardener

Spraying in the evening usually does the trick - after the bees have gone home to bed.