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| Well, the cooler weather is now here and the garden is about to be put to bed for the winter.
However, as others have pointed out, the lettuce is still doing well. This year I planted fall lettuce a little early and was concerned that maybe it was getting a little too much heat, co I draped tulle over the lettuce growing in the hotbed and tented another (open sided) area with tulle. Both are growing well, but the lettuce in the hotbed is getting small black bugs that almost look like a nympth. Yhe open sided bed, which is actually adjacent to the hotbed, shows no sign of infestation. This is the first time I've ever seen this critter. I'm attaching a picture, but I really would have like to get a better close-up. Anyone able o take a shot at identifying? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I'm guessing flea beetles. However, I have only seen the damage they cause, not the beetles themselves. And I don't see damage on your lettuce. Flea beetle damage looks like it was made with a shot gun -- lots of little holes. They don't eat much but they make the leaves somewhat unsightly. Jim |
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| Are you sure that they aren't black lettuce aphids? The picture is so blurry that I can't be certain. Aphids found on lettuce are often blackor very dark. We get pictures in the forums quite often. |
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- Posted by wolverine1012 6 SW OH (My Page) on Wed, Nov 7, 12 at 20:51
| I don't think they are flea beetles. I've had flea beetles hopping around on my potatoes. These things don't seem to move much, but they are eating holes in the lettuce. Aphids? Maybe. I'd tried to take a closeup shot but things got even more blurry. The strange thing is that they are not on the lettuce protected with the wooden sides of the cold frame. Rhizo, with what do you suggest that I eliminate them? |
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| I'm also thinking aphids. But aphids don't eat holes. So maybe something else is doing that. They are weak fliers which explains why they are happier in a protected frame than in the open. I'd eliminate them with a simple blast from the hose. |
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| Here is a link to many flea beetle images. Jim |
Here is a link that might be useful: Flea Beetle Images
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- Posted by wolverine1012 6 SW OH (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 15:20
| Jimster-thanks for the images but what I have is much smaller-about the size of a the head of a straight pin. They are nowhere the size shown in the pictures. Flora- You understood that sometimes you don't type what you are thinking. What I meant to type--and what you picked up--is that the bugs are only on the lettuce INSIDE the enclosure. That which is outside (but adjacent to) the coldframe is bug free. I haven't seen anything else that could be eating the holes, but I guess it's possible that we might also have a slug issue. |
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- Posted by wolverine1012 6 SW OH (My Page) on Mon, Dec 10, 12 at 22:11
| Well, whatever these are...they have now moved to my broccoli. I cut a real nice head this evening and thought that I would be bug free since the cabbage moths are long gone but was surprised to find the heads of the broccoli just full of these. When the temperatures are between the high twenties and the low 50's, you usually aren't treating for insects. Any other thoughts. |
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