A few things to look for in October: 

Passionvine Hoppers do a bit of damage from late October/Early November till March-April 

These are the problematic insects that are common in the north (and for the past few years, also around Christchurch – they’re spreading South! 



Adult passionvine hoppers plus one nearly-mature fluffybum

Most of the damage is cased when the bugs are growing bigger and older (later in spring); by then these insects can jump away from insecticides applied; they clever enough to avoid being immersed. 

CONTROL and PREVENTION: 

Keep an eye on the new fluffy bums hatching in your garden right now!!! Those tiny nymphs often congregate in large flocks at the ends of new growth; they are still very feeble in their movement and won’t be able to escape a cloud of fly-spray aimed at them on a wind-still morning 

Spray these young Passionvine Hoppers in October with a good dose of fly-spray; your only chance to hit them before they become troublesome.

Slugs and Snails are a real pest in the garden at this time of the year; moisture and new plant growth encourages them 

Control measures that work:  
Weed control will expose them to predators (thrushes) 
Using Bait pellets in a pottle, dug into soil: take-away container with lid on and bait inside; holes cut in the side of the container let slugs and snails in; but not dogs and cats
Alternative version is to use some off-cuts (15-30 cm long) of plastic waste-pipe, diameter 50 to 75 mm, which allows access to slugs and snails, but not to birds.  Put some bait in the pipes and anchor them down with a heavy brick 


Encourage Carabid beetles (Ground beetles): they often feed on slugs and snail juveniles and eggs



Slug and Snail bait station

And then there are Mites, especially Two-Spotted SPIDER MITES 



Tiny, eight-legged ACARI that love to suck the fluids out of the leaves of your plants in spring, summer and autumn. 

Tetranychus urticae is a cosmopolitan species of mite that causes heaps of damage. Control is not very difficult: there are some good miticides (note: miticides, not insecticides) on the market that will deal to most outbreaks. However, mites are known for becoming quite tolerant of chemical compounds.

Mineral oils and the so-called fatty acids are also effective on spidermites, as is a couple of repeat sprays of Neem oil.

LISTEN ABOVE

A few things to look for in October:&nbsp;
Passionvine Hoppers do a bit of damage from late October/Early November till March-April&nbsp;
These are the problematic insects that are common in the north (and for the past few years, also around Christchurch – they’re spreading South!&nbsp;

Adult passionvine hoppers plus one nearly-mature fluffybum
Most of the damage is cased when the bugs are growing bigger and older (later in spring); by then these insects can jump away from insecticides applied; they clever enough to avoid being immersed.&nbsp;
CONTROL and PREVENTION:&nbsp;
Keep an eye on the new fluffy bums hatching in your garden right now!!! Those tiny nymphs often congregate in large flocks at the ends of new growth; they are still very feeble in their movement and won’t be able to escape a cloud of fly-spray aimed at them on a wind-still morning&nbsp;
Spray these young Passionvine Hoppers in October with a good dose of fly-spray; your only chance to hit them before they become troublesome.
Slugs and Snails are a real pest in the garden at this time of the year; moisture and new plant growth encourages them&nbsp;
Control measures that work: &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Weed control will expose them to predators (thrushes)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Using Bait pellets in a pottle, dug into soil: take-away container with lid on and bait inside; holes cut in the side of the container let slugs and snails in; but not dogs and cats</li>
<li>Alternative version is to use some off-cuts (15-30 cm long) of plastic waste-pipe, diameter 50 to 75 mm, which allows access to slugs and snails, but not to birds. &nbsp;Put some bait in the pipes and anchor them down with a heavy brick&nbsp;</li>
<li>
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Encourage Carabid beetles (Ground beetles): they often feed on slugs and snail juveniles and eggs
</li>
</ul>

Slug and Snail bait station
And then there are Mites, especially Two-Spotted SPIDER MITES&nbsp;

Tiny, eight-legged ACARI that love to suck the fluids out of the leaves of your plants in spring, summer and autumn.&nbsp;
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; background-position: 0px 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Tetranychus urticae is a cosmopolitan species of mite that causes heaps of damage. Control is not very difficult: there are some good miticides (note: miticides, not insecticides) on the market that will deal to most outbreaks. However, mites are known for becoming quite tolerant of chemical compounds.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Mineral oils and the so-called fatty acids are also effective on spidermites, as is a couple of repeat sprays of Neem oil.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Ruud Kleinpast: Eyes on your pests

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a0a9c584-69d5-4e5f-a2bc-b3790176a217/transcript