Summer Gardens Part 2

Yes they do!

the little squash bugs babies I have are light grey (but this is the first year I have ever seen them). They are slow and easy to get.
Now my squash are without cover and I am applying Neem Oil once a week. The squash bugs don't like the oil and they just come on top of the leaves and easy to "squash".
The leaffotted bugs are bright orange. These are the bugs that will suck out the juice from your tomatoes and make them taste so bad. You could have a look on the tomatoes during the heat of the day ... they are monsters !
When they are baby they are really fast ! As adults they slow down and easy to catch!

Happy gardening !

forgot to mention: the cake recipe i posted a good while further up in this thread. we tried it the other week, and it was pretty darn good, we forgot to flour up the berries, so most of them sank to the bottom, LOL!! But still pretty darn good, i would suggest pairing it up with vanilla ice cream ;) . and still a good supply of berries still rolling in. i come in with about a good handful every morning, and into the freezer they go!

This message was edited Jul 7, 2014 11:53 AM

Okay, went outside and watered the pumpkin vines again. These little critters came up for air.

What's the judgement? Squash bugs, or assassin bugs?

That would be a 4B -- "Black Bump on the Butt" = BAD insect!

And, the fact that there are TWO of them in fairly close proximity leads me to surmise those are Stinkbug nymphs in the teenage stage, vs. the more welcome and predatory Assassin Bug -- which does NOT have the black butt bump...

I thought Squash Bugs were more triangular in shape? LMK...

Congregations of small, ant-like buggies with bright orange bodies and black legs are Stinkbug Nymphs in the juvenile stage...

Another tip off is the "leaf" pattern on the hind legs of your creature...

You captured a very nice close-up of what I believe are Stinkbugs.

Here's a nice close-up of an Assassin Bug, from our very own Bug Files... notice the curved probiscus (sp?), needle-nose, on the front. That's another one of my identifiers.

I've run across quite a few confusing pics for each respective bug on the web. I determined my own identifiers through closely observing each bug, where it lives, and what it does...

Hope this helps!

Thanks Gymgirl ! That explains why none of them went after the big stinkbug that crawled up the leaf while I was taking the photo. I guess that was "mama". May she rest in peace. Okay, it's insecticidal soap time,eh? I have plenty of Fels Naptha.
I just didn't want to take the chance that I was killing any assassin bugs since they are such good predators. Apparently we have some of those too because my husband saw one eating an ant.
4 B's .... got it!

Becky, here's my salsa recipe.

2 pounds very ripe tomatoes
1-3 jalapeno or serrano chilies to taste (I use jalapeno)
1 large clove garlic
1 t salt, or to taste

**I also add cilantro and diced onion

Core tomatoes and cut into chunks. Remove stems from chilies but do not seed. Peel garlic clove. If using meat grinder (which I don't), process adding chilies sparingly and tasting as you go because chilies vary widely in heat. Add salt to taste.

If using food processor, turn machine on and add chilies and garlic through feeding tube until chopped. Remove top and add tomatoes, then pulse machine until correct consistency is achieved.

Makes 4 Cups

You're welcome Lois!

3 summers ago, I did eBucket gardening around the perimeter of the yard. Had a stand of tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets, and kept wondering why I didn't see any holes in the tomato plants, and not a single bug even crawling up the buckets.

That's when I discovered the herd of Assassin bugs living in the milkweed growing around the perimeter of my yard. They captured anything heading for a bucket! Unfortunately, I didn't know much about either the bugs or the milkweed, cause I whacked away all the milkweed, and the herd moved on.

Since then, I've reestablished the milkweed, and slowly, the Assassin bugs are returning to patrol my veggie garden!

Here's the pic I tried to post above -- nice Assassin bug specimen.

Great shot, Linda!

Thanks, Steph!

Wish I could take the credit for that shot, but, it came from the Dave's Garden bug files.

Gymgirl - OMG! I've been pulling up the milkweed around my garden! That will stop now.

My son just used the zucchini and tomatoes I picked to make a very large and very delicious lasagna. Mmmmmmm...... really good stuff!

Yes it does look similar to black krim! Bet it's just a cross, I'm gonna Dmail the lady who sent me all those seeds and see if she has any idea what they are. One of the crosses, the 1 inch cherries, are my favorite so far, flavor wise. Pretty much all the mater plants are ripening and still growing leaps and bounds daily. The two plants that sat in a puddle for 24 hours after the last rains are a total goner now. Bummer! I think I will follow drthor's lead and plant long beans.

Thanks for the recipe Steph! Can't wait to try it :)

Oh jmc, your cake made me lick the screen! Lol well not really, but it did make my mouth water!!

Lois do you make insecticidal soap w the Fels Naptha?

Anyone in favor of a new thread? This one is being a bugger to load..

Here you go!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1367900/

Becky - I haven't yet used it.... I got the information from a friend and found this website that has more information.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/country-lore-homemade-insecticidal-soap-spray.aspx

Also, this is found in "Old Time Gardening Wisdom" by Jerry Baker. I really love this book!

So, tomorrow I will mix up some Fels Naptha soap solution and spray those little varmints. I will report back on if it works..... or if everything dies or something. I don't think that is very likely since I know people who have used it without any problems!

I do all my laundry with Fels Naptha soap, borax and washing soda. Cleans better, smells great and deodorizes my laundry. And is very CHEAP!

As for a new thread... I don't know.... just point me in the direction I should go!

**Please comment on the new thread***