Sever Aphid infestation :(

[fatcalvin]

So i have a pretty bad Aphid infestation going on right now. Ive sprayed with Pyrethrin garden insect spray and it seems to kill them. It just doesnt kill them all. With the short life of Aphids and quick hatch rate I cant seem to get them under control. Is there like some sort of fogger or something that i can use. Im about 6 weeks into flower and really hate to use anything on them but i may just crop, take my losses, and set up another batch. Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: After doing some research, they look more like thrips based on my google image search results. Which is weird because ive look a few times before and couldnt find anything that looked similar.

 

[fatcalvin]

The guy at the hydroponic shop said they looked like aphids when i brought a bag with some dead ones in to show him. They aren't fat though. The insect i have looks more like a flea and "hops" like one too! They are black. Ill see if i can get a picture.

 

[BII]

What works for me is open several fresh (used only for this purpose) No Pest Strips in the tent and turn off the exhaust fan (probably also requires turning the lights out), and keep the fans inside the tent going (I do this for about 2-3 hours). The concentrated vapors will reliably kill any air-exposed/breathing surface and flying insects. Unlike pyrethrins and most other insecticides that are liquid-based, the vapors leave no residue, never get deposited on or enter the plant tissues. Just turn on the fan, lights, and exhaust the vapors when done.

Othewise, hit them also with other complementary insecticides, such as Spinosad bacteria (e.g., Capt. Jack's) and insectidical soap solution.

 

[fatcalvin]

Awesome thank you! I'm going to try this when I get home. I've got 2 led lights and a 600 dimmable mh set to 300 so I can turn that off and just keep the leds on. Where can I get some of those strips?

 

[Waira]

Cal' - ..pics would be most helpful, of the bug and the leaves (damage especially), and show how heavy the infestation is.... your description of them has me wondering- LOL! Do you have a magnifier? A real close look might help ID them with more certainty,... Aphids typically are kinda plump, but they don't actually jump... but they may simply drop off to escape sometimes if they feel threatened; they also tend to congregate together, typically under the leaves.... Thrips are narrow in build, and usually very small-- this dash would be about right (-)... they do jump, and adults can fly,...they don't mass together like aphids; they're highly mobile, often are not at the scene of the crime when you spot their tell-tall damage, usually on the upper surfaces of leaves, leaving a finely stippled, paled out, "silvery" appearing damage,....
Both can be killed by the pyrethrum, and the Spinosad (a bacterial extract),... both are neurotoxins, but aren't instant contact killers,... like neem, and Azamax, they sicken the bug, stopping feeding (anti-feedant), then they croak out a day or so later,...
...foggers are great too, but physically removing the bugs might be best, to keep your buds free of bodies! In the past, I've made a solution of 1 part alcohol, 1 part water, and some wetting agent or mild soap, then get a paper towel piece and wipe the bastards off, as much as you can reasonably get to... badly covered leaves are best just snipped clean off,... then go back and retreat with spray again,... Are you outside? the source of these vermin is something to figure out as well,... OD's, you'll never win the war, just the battles! I know, being an OD grower myself,... replacements are all around!

 

[fatcalvin]

Waira, thanks for the insight! They are most defiantly thrips based on what I've read/seen online in comparison to what i have going on. They also perfectly match your description of them and as an outdoor grower I can only assume that you have ran into tons of bugs. I'm currently grow indoors but have to go through the outside world to get to my spot ( kinda vague, i know) So it could be possible that i might have picked something up on the way in. Its hard to tell if they are dead or not after i spray. I do a wipe down with my finger and thumb on the leaves. It seems like 8/10 are dead, but they dont take long to reproduce. Im wondering if they might have got in from the soil i bought at the hydro shop?? I didnt seem to remember having a problem in DWC. I am most likely going to chop ( not bug related, damn hermis) and cut my losses on this one. But id like to get them cleared before the next go round. They were so bad that they were on my AC intake and on my lights and walls!!!!

 

[Waira]

... hey bud! .... sucky news to hear about the hermie' issue! What strain was she, and was it an auto? *for future ref': yeah, thrips can be hitch-hikers, but again, they can fly, so access for them comes easier than others!.... --the soil! ...forgot in my ramblings-- thrips lay eggs in/on the plant, hatch and feed,... then go through a sort of pupal stage by dropping into the soil,... they don't feed during this time... certainly you can zap the surface of the soil with the spray, but a layer of diatomaceous earth forms a deadly barrier against them; this stuff, made form the "skeletal structures" marine single cell algae make, is basically glass (SiO2), and acts like shards and spikes of glass at the micro-scale,... the get sliced, pierced, and bleed out! LOL! ...it takes a little maintenance for a week or so, to keep the layer intact after watering, but once you kill off that generation, along with the rest, you can let it slide,... Holy crap! you had a major invasion going, likely a full cycle reproduction one- ...okay, time to nuke the tent! a fogger might still be a good option, allowing the fumes to penetrate the ducting, etc.,... talk with you Horti-store folks about it,... the soil could be suspect indeed! ...thanks for the Rep' smack too, mate! ...have some back for being smart about cutting you losses and getting help!

 

[fatcalvin]

Thanks man!! It was a clone of a sour diesel that I had grown before that hermied but I let it run super dry one time and thought that's what caused it. I deff need to do something with these damn bugs though. I had a frog in there once and was going to get him out but never did. I never had any bug problems then. Thanks for the help guys!!