Can you post a photo? Big bites or little?

Actually I pulled off a bud that had the tip chewed and looked like it was brown inside and there was a bug inside. When it started to crawl out I actually dropped it (what a woose) so I didn't see what it actually looked like except that it was maybe almost as large as a lady bug but skinnier.

But the bug had actually chewed (or something else) the inside of the bud. No holes on the sides of the buds, just entered and eaten from the tip.

I have an organic insetisidal soap (spinosad?). Do you think that if I sprayed the buds it would deter the little buggers?

andrea

andrea

Spinosad works well on most little chewing things. I like it because most beneficials don't chew, and it's not as toxic to them unless it's wet. Spray in the evening when the bees aren't active, because it will kill bees before it's dry.

If you don't see much damage, you might wait it out. Try to hand-pick the offender if possible.

But wasps, toads and other things will get attracted to the pest and eat it themselves, usually, and then the beneficial population grows. It depends on how much damage is being done before I spray. I'd rather a toad eat it this year and the next and the next... :)

Thanks for the info. I'll try that.

andrea

Often this is a small scale problem that doesn't call for a preventative response, so maybe you don't need to do anything.

The bug you found in the hole is not necessarily the culprit. There are sawfly larvae (green worms around 1") that tunnel in buds, and spinosad will kill them.

Being the terribly patient person that I am, (boy did my nose just grow), I will try to refrain from any action until I see more damage....BOY THIS WILL KILL ME!!!!
But I'll try.

thanks, andrea