Black aphids? infestation! HELP!!

11 years ago

Suddenly have what look like tiny black beetles or aphids, they have almost destroyed all my kale and eaten a few other plants too. I don't know what to do about it, I'm just pulling the plants out and throwing them on the burn pile. We've had an exceptionally hot dry spring and summer, I've never had anything like this before. Any ideas on how to get rid of them? I don't use chemicals but the thousands and thousands of them on the kale is tempting me. . The pictures are of what used to be yummy kale...

Featured Answer

digdirt2

11 years ago

Those aren't aphids. Thought at first they were Blister Beetles but the head doesn't look right and the scale seems to be off size wise unless your kale stems were huge. A close up of the bug would help.

They look like they could be flea beetles if the scale is right and yes it is a major infestation, far beyond normal in my experience with them. But it didn't develop overnight and it won't go away quickly without pesticides. If you don't want to use a pesticide then Neem or Spinosad are the only really effective organic controls IME.

Dave

http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/flea-beetles/

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Comments (7)

stolenidentity
11 years ago
Wow, Blueisland! I'm sorry that happened. I don't know what those are but I would do as you are doing and pull the plants and destroy them and the hungry little bleepers. If you can kill by fire then you are fortunate! Do clean out the garden area by removing all of the plants and turn the soil and if at all possible avoid chemicals. Make sure there are no eggs, bugs, nests, etc.
Blueisland BC PNW-Z7-8 thanked stolenidentity
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Blueisland BC PNW-Z7-8
Original Author
11 years ago
I believe they must be some kind of flea beetle, thank you for the information on them Dave, I've never seen them before. i saw them for the first time about 3 weeks ago on the kale, pulled up almost all of the kale and what was left seemed OK until yesterday, now covered too. Will be washing it off and harvesting it all and then removing everything from that garden. I may have to get some kind of spray if they spread to the other gardens. Wish I could burn but we have a fire ban here due to the dry conditions so will be bagging and waiting for rain before burning them. With the mild winter, no snow and hot spring I'm thinking I better get used to bugs!
Here is a close up of the beetle.
jean001a
11 years ago
Appear to be cabbage flea beetles.
See http://bugguide.net/node/view/371022
Blueisland BC PNW-Z7-8 thanked jean001a
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Jim's
11 years ago
Sorry for your infestation, it is heartbreaking to experience something like it. I went through early blight last year and had my tomatoes decimated.

Be careful using the soil next year, maybe some nematodes may help http://www.buglogical.com/flea-beetles/ I try to use beneficial insects to ward off the insect pests. I have had good luck with it so far. Good luck with preserving anything you have left.
Blueisland BC PNW-Z7-8
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you Jim's and jean001a for the helpful info, after I clean up the garden (it is a raised box so not too big) I will see if I can find some nematodes and any other beneficial insects. The same kale has been growing in that box for 3 years, going to seed and producing new healthy plants, hard to see every plant decimated.
Blueisland BC PNW-Z7-8
Original Author
11 years ago
i did try one other thing that i read about in an organic gardening book, i put down a big yellow bowl filled with water and a few drops of vegetable oil. Lots of dead beetles in there just overnight so some help anyway.