Pest Florida Lettuce

16 years ago

I have this pest that attacks the lettuce first in few then in large amounts that I grow, I've grown 3 types of lettuce so far in Florida(near Daytona Beach), during november-january there were no bugs like this an we ate many a salad, soon after february every plant i had was infested starting from the core stem folds and going out most of them centered around the most succulent part of the plant(the core), since then I've tried two other varieties here to no avail they even infest the seedlings(even 2 week old sprouts!) I have included pictures as I cannot identify what this pest is. I would love to be rid of them, I dislike pesticides maybe there is a alternative that will not effect my soil/plants/microbial lifeforms in a negative fashion?

I would graciously invite numerous types of answers to dealing with this pest as my last personal alternate is to Grow Hydroponic Lettuce, an I have already tested a small system of my making to which I will improve on within the month if I cannot find an answer an grown lettuce indoors(which may be the only answer :-( )

I would like to point out that these bugs do not infest my bolero peas, juliet - better boy - husky cherry red - beef steak tomatoes, carrots, jalapenos, cayenne, basil, sunflowers, sweet corn, cherry tree, orange or lemon tree, red bell pepper, crimson sweet watermelon, raspberry, cantaloupe, sweet basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, sorghum cane, or roses. just the lettuce!

Picture #1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9334026@N06/4565144086/

Picture #2

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9334026@N06/4565143224/

Picture #3

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9334026@N06/4565142304/

Good Karma to those kind enough to help a small home farmer just coming up on his 2nd year still learning about all these things trying his best to stay organic an green,

Steve

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Comments (3)

jean001
16 years ago
Nice close-ups of a very common pest -- aphids. some have wings, some don't.

The remedy -- periodic inspections, then either squish or wash off.
striphe
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you very much! Esp for the promptness. This has led me to growing plants to attract safe pests that are their predator and in general a deeper organic approach all over the past 2 months. I've found parsley attracts lady bugs which in their larval stage will vigorously eat them an their eggs. I have yet to have a re-infection.

Now my current issue is a over infection on ONLY tomato plants of gypsy moths caterpillar that are from 1/4 an inch to 1 inch long(rarely), to which the only current solution I've found is to attract birds which i was already doing and salamanders which I was def already doing like mad. I mad cut everything and in a month it came right back and like a swarming plague of locusts another breed of moth mini pillars came in at 1/8 an inch long all over 1/4 of the leaves. mostly on my juliet tomato plants, an they core some of the tomatoes through a hole at very young ages lowering my crop to 1/4 what it would be. The Juliets are near a bathroom window light. I'd use a bug zapper for the moths but it's Florida an the rain/lighting would make that option null and void.

Again thank you very much!
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
You don't have gypsy moths in Florida, aren't you glad?

And Bug zappers have been proved to attract more critters to an area than you had in the first place. Not a good idea for garden areas, porches, or patios.