Found this that may be them!
Hi. That's the two-lined spittlebug. Realistically, there is nothing short of a thermonuclear device that is going to eliminate these bugs prior to their own demise from natural causes - which is quite inevitable. You're just going to have to wait them out. About the best you can do is to figure out which plants are the ones they're breeding on (the masses of white foam, like little blobs of shaving cream, should be fairly obvious), and tear those plants out, replacing them with something they do NOT like to feed on. After all, even if you were to go out, every hour, with a can of bug spray in your hand and kill every bug in your yard, there are several thousand more bugs in every one of your neighbors' yards, for miles in every direction, that can simply fly into your yard 5 minutes later. Outdoor insects can only be controlled (in the literal sense) if they can be stopped at the source - meaning denying them the resources they need to feed and reproduce. Killing insects is a losing battle.
Hope this helps,
Bob
Message posted by Linda2 on 04 April 2009 at 12:46am - IP Logged
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Hi Bob,
I think Linda may be right. There's no white foam (unless its coming from my mouth!) Believe me, I've looked at every inch of the vegetable patch watching for possible breeding areas - nothing to be seen. They do, however, burrow into the ground when I spray them from the plants.
Little monsters have it all ways up! they fly and ground creep. Grrrrrrr.....
However, I'm perfectly prepared for it to be a running battle for the next few weeks. Its getting personal now!
I'm just wodering that if they go for tubers - will they transfer to the potatoes????
Maybe if we get a downpour of rain in the next few days it will drown them - or am I clutching at straws?
Please keep up the good work of suggestions everyone. I'll post up any successes.
Maria and I will not be the only ones to benefit!!!!
C. xxx
Message posted by kinninviekid on 04 April 2009 at 1:31am - IP Logged
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I think it might be a member of the Weevil Family. If it is they do destroy. Other half grows Chrysanthemums and I have known friends of his who have grown over two hundred pots to end up having to throw all 200 plants out because of the weevil getting into them.
When he comes home I will ask him to look at photo and come back with suggestions for you. Although we are in England I know there are things you can do to try and kill them of.
Viv
Message posted by lisydaly on 04 April 2009 at 11:15am - IP Logged
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I think it could actually be the onion fly - this lays eggs on onions, shallots and leeks and the maggots which develop do loads of damage - as do the flies. They don't seem to attack other crops. If you google onion fly there is a photo of one - sort of dirty grey with a red underbelly. They were mentioned on Gardeners World last night, and a brief mention was made that they had come into the UK from the Continent and had been found in Wolverhampton in the Midlands. I only caught half of the item, but I'm sure they said that crops whould be grown under cover, or covered up, to prevent the flies from laying. I had a look on the Gardeners World website but can't find anything.
Message posted by trisa on 04 April 2009 at 1:40pm - IP Logged
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I googled the onion fly and the weevils, but couldn't see any likeness to Cheryls bug.
I keep checking my onions now!
Cheryls, how about putting one in a matchbox and taking it to your nearest zootrofes? They may be able to identify it although they might try to sell you chemicals to eradicate it!
Trisa.
Message posted by Cheryls on 04 April 2009 at 2:16pm - IP Logged
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Hi there, me again!
I'm pinning my hopes on Martyn and Viv at the mo. However, Trisa, taking one to get it identified is a good idea. But you're right about the chemicals - I've been offered some already - but I'll leave it to last resort.
Today's remedy is - loads of mashed garlic boiled up in water with some olive oil - and leaving to cool before spraying. I've noticed that they're leaving te garlic plants alone - so I'm going to make my onions smell like garlic. How about that for lateral thinking!!
Onwards and upwards......
Cheryl xx
Message posted by Linda2 on 05 April 2009 at 12:31am - IP Logged
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