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How to control bugs on vegetable bed?

Hello,

We live in Brisbane and seem to have problems on our garden bed with bugs eating into some of our produce / leaves.

We tried neem oil extract so far with limited success. Anybody in the community has had any luck with this ? Please suggest something I can use to control the bugs.

Arun

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Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @ArunM

There are many bugs and different solutions for each.

Rather than load your garden up with mixed chemicals.

Is there any signs of caterpillers etc that might be the culprit?

Not much help yet I know.

Akanksha

Sorry to hear about your bug issue, @ArunM.

I agree with @Jewelleryrescue that any insights on the type of bugs attacking your produce would be helpful. Feel free to post any additional photos of the bugs that can help our members identify them.

Let me also call upon our experienced garden experts @mich1972 and @Noelle for their thoughts.

Akanksha

mich1972

Good morning @ArunM it is hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like your Eggplant is being eaten by grubs, which you can use Dipel from Yates. That’s a safe spray for edible plants eaten by grubs and caterpillars.
Your tomato fruit may have been eaten by rats, it’s hard to tell. The foliage itself looks like a fungal disease, possibly too much water. Again I’m not 100% sure. I’m going to tag @Noelle for her expert advice. 😊🪴

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/33371#Comment_33371

Hi @ArunM

I agree with @mich1972 regarding the eggplant foliage - a natural insecticide like pyrethrum or Dipel should do the trick.

Given the amount of rain that your part of the country has had in the past few weeks, I think the tomato is suffering from too much moisture (the damaged fruit looks like it has developed a rot following some form of damage, such as sunburn or even a rodent. The plant looks like it has developed a disease of some description (bacterial or fungal) from having wet feet for too long.

ArunM

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/79001#Comment_79001

Thanks for the suggestions @Noelle , @mich1972 , @Jewelleryrescue

I will try pyrethrum for some time and see if it will help. This is a suspect I found. I will keep checking.

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-07 at 7.21.11 AM.jpeg

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/103834#Comment_103834

Hi @ArunM

That's a ladybird beetle or lady bug - a good guy that eats bad bugs! Not your culprit. Make sure not to spray lady bugs as they are beneficial to have around. Check out the CSIRO's Ladybirds of Australia's website for more information.

mich1972

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/103834#Comment_103834

Makes my heart happy when I see ladybugs in my garden, they are truly beneficial, don’t destroy them !!

ArunM

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118977#Comment_118977

Thank you @mich1972 for the suggestions. Will be careful not to spray the lady bugs.

We started using pyrethrum. I will see how they go. Planning to apply it weekly. I will also use some neem oil in between and see if that helps.

I also found these when I was inspecting the plants.

Thanks to the community for their time and suggestions.

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-22 at 8.42.24 AM.jpeg

mich1972

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128067#Comment_128067

@Noelle Do you know what these are ? @ArunM I have tagged Noelle into the conversation 🌿😊

synta

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/103834#Comment_103834

Hi @ArunM , it does look like the 28-spotted ladybird (Epilachna), not as beneficial as most ladybirds as it's a leaf eater (particularly potato leaves) though still part of ecosystem. In small numbers, generally won't cause too much damage though if there's a lot and it's affecting your harvest then you may need to get firm with them. Couple sites that also provide a bit more info on this beetle: 26/28 Spotted Ladybug Pest Management on Potatoes & Other Crops - Self Sufficient Me and How to control the 28 spotted leaf eating ladybird organically | Organic Gardener Magazine Australia.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128067#Comment_128067

Geez @ArunM! Those bugs are giving me Starship Troopers vibes. They are certainly impressive creatures.

They appear to be a variety of Oncopeltus zonatus, more commonly known as milkweed bugs. If it's a localised infestation, you might like to remove them with a gloved hand and dispose of them.

Mitchell

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133924#Comment_133924

Hi @ArunM and @mich1972

Not really sure! There appears to be one large brown one across the centre which looks a little like a shield bug but the others with the longer legs - can't really tell. Shield bugs are not good to have on vegies as they chomp l;eaves etc. The long legged ones could be beneficials that aid in controlling bad bugs, but that's purely a guess as the photo isn't really close enough for a better ID.

ArunM

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137579#Comment_137579

@MitchellMc . The starship troopers are winning this one atm. 🙂

I am trying with pyrethrum weekly once and also neem oil fairly regularly. I feel like there are some improvements now. So I will continue and see.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140103#Comment_140103

Keep up the good fight, @ArunM! It's great to hear there have been some improvements.

Mitchell

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