10254 puzzling pests in the orto

Wondering if anyone knows more than I do. Having scanned all my pics in gardening books these ones don't appear so does anyone recognise them and is there anything to do apart from blast them with hose water or soapy water?

Green and pinkish shield bugs, black and lime green striped or spotted bugs of varying sizes all sitting and walking on my tomatoes. The nastiest one is like a mid sized grey moth that sits on anything, including lemon branches and flies away when disturbed. Any ideas and do they matter? Not so easy this veg and vine growing, it all grows but seems to get attacked!

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/30/2008 - 12:13

There are many different types of sheild bugs and they have never done any harm to veg in our garden.Indeed they may be eating aphids or other nasties so dont get rid of them yet!!

Moths are different as their larva can do lots of harm.But they are also food for bats!Can you post a picture of the variety?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/30/2008 - 12:39

Indeed, they are Shield Bugs. They are also called "Stink Bugs", for reasons that become obvious when you squash them. And squash them you may very well feel is the right thing to do as they live not on aphids (sadly) but on the sap of your plants and vegetables. I have read that they are eaten in some African countries and that they are a valuable source of protein. Hmm... I think I will pass on that idea.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 08/30/2008 - 16:57

Make sure your plants get plenty of water but not on the leaves - rapid growth seems to help.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/05/2008 - 02:05

Certainly is nezara viridula unfortunately it likes tomatoes, hope it keeps away next year.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/05/2008 - 14:00

[quote=Cassini;96041]Certainly is nezara viridula unfortunately it likes tomatoes, hope it keeps away next year.[/quote]

Obviously likes basil too. Normally basil and tomatoes are said to make good companion plants keeping pest of each other.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/05/2008 - 14:05

You only have to add some "mozarella" slices.... Would they like "mozarella" as well? Fortunately, it is kept in the fridge....

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:19

One plant that will help repel these stinkbugs/shield beetles is marigolds -- the pyrethrin-like substance they secrete (not a particularly nice odor) seems to keep them away. It's very cheap & easy to grow a flat of marigold from seed each spring, or buy a flat at the farmer's market -- they grow, flower & reproduce really quickly, too.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 00:47

Thanks for that advice. Do you recommend Calendula marigold or the more usual bedding plant types of African dwarf marigolds?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 09:56

We've been using the dwarfed African ones, but I hear from other organic gardeners that the Calendula (French) ones work as well. Keep us posted?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 13:42

Will revive this next growing season! Have seen marigolds growing in ortos whilst passing in the car. Hope we can keep out Mr Chingiale and Mr Tasso next year too.