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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] does squishing aphids attract aphid predators

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  • From: yarrow@sfo.com
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] does squishing aphids attract aphid predators
  • Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 17:23:53 -0700

Plants do communicate with insects. If they are under attack, all plants in an area will start manufacturing chemicals to make them less tasty to insects. Also, if plants are sick, they broadcast chemicals that, in effect, invite predators.

Aphids are attracted by too-rapid growth, usually from too much nitrogen (especially synthetic fertilizers) or too much water. They can often be dislodged with a spray of water, though for a whole tree this could be a lot of work.

I've heard it's common for lady beetles to fly away -- they're often collected in the mountains, not bred locally, and have no reason to stay in one place or another.

For a foliar feed, I'd try aerated compost tea first. I don't have fruit trees myself, alas, but have heard it can prevent peach leaf curl and other recalcitrant problems if used early enough in the season.

Understory plants to try are the ones that provide year-round shelter and forage for the beneficials you want to attract, such as lacewings. Lady beetles are all over my yarrow this year. Other plants with tiny flowers are also good -- most of the beneficials are tiny and need correspondingly tiny flowers.

-----Original Message-----
From: paul@richsoil.com
To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sat, 12 May 2007 12:20 PM
Subject: [permaculture] does squishing aphids attract aphid predators


A plum tree I recently started caring for has lost about a third of
its leaves to aphids this year. Every time I buy ladybugs, they just
fly away - and this time was no different. I released them at dusk
and they were all over the tree when it was dark. In the morning they
were all gone. Maybe they ate some aphids at night before they left.

I've sprayed the tree twice with alaska fish fertilizer (as a foliar).
I think this is a quick step in helping the tree become stronger and
fight off the aphids naturally. I've now mulched the tree and started
planting things that might help the tree in the long run.

As I squished some of the aphids I was thinking that maybe the smell
of the squished aphids would attract aphid predators. Would this be
just wishful thinking on my part? Has anybody ever heard of anything
that might support this idea?
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