GrahamC Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Got tiny red spot like things drilling holes in my bok choy in my aquaponics system. They didn't seem to move and using a hand lens I can't resolve any details. These pictures were taken using iTouch through the eye piece of a 10x microscope. I don't have a camera attachment Anyone know what these things are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 from those pics? No,sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 This is what they look like on the zucchini leaf .. lots of tiny red dots I collected some fresh specimens and they have segmented legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 try http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resou ... s-this-bug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Anyone know what these things are? from that pic i would conjecture they are immature ones of these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 they can be controlled with RIPleyCORD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Try as I mite, I wasn't able to identify the beggars. Part of the problem is that I am collecting them in a tissue and legs fall off so not sure how many they have to start with. That link only goes down to 6 legs. Interesting though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aotealotl Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 from that pic i would conjecture they are immature ones of these funny that, exactly my first thought when I saw the pictures... :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Me too. That's why I was thinking LA was suggesting I seek the aid of Ellen Ripley. But looks like he's suggesting http://www.animalhealthdirect.co.nz/Ani ... ol/Ripcord Wonder if this is fish safe ... don't want the goldies to croak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Graham can you show a picture of what they do to the leaves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Sure. Here's a picture of the bok choy. You can see a few on the left leaf and lots of tiny fenestrations. Guessing they work for Microsoft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Ripcord is a synthetic pyrethroid so I can't use this as it's too risky for the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Sorry, the eye piece is 10x and the lens is 10x, so the magnification is 100x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Actually I'm beginning to wonder if it's just some type of plant material that has been blown in and landed on the leaves ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 leaf miners are making the little trails. If you cut off a leaf and split it with a razor you'll find a little burrowing larvae in there. You can sometimes see them. Usually I either ignore them or you can gently squash them in their burrows too. They could also be making the spotty bits or perhaps it's a deficiency of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Cool. I hadn't realised what those trails were ... so once the weather improves I'll be out there squashing them. I don't think the spots are a deficiency as I also have some plants in the deep water culture that are protected by plastic cups, and their leaves are fine. No holes. So, I need to find the bugs responsible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 I used to get annoyed when they mined plants I liked to look at, but once miners started in our bok choy and other edibles we just ate them...... :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 red spider or two spotted mite??sulpur dust will fix them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 due to a recent customer issue and a good play around with a microscope they look very similar to pear blister mite. a good dose of pyrethrum spray works on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Interesting though these things are not behaving like mites which colonise the undersurface of the leaf. I think I need to get one of those USB microscopes to get some good pictures of them without being damaged during collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 my lettuces have all the same markings and there are definitely leaf miners in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 due to a recent customer issue and a good play around with a microscope they look very similar to pear blister mite. a good dose of pyrethrum spray works on them. looks like a carrot to me? do a google on spider mite,are there fine traces of web there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 these things act kinda like leaf borers, but are red and weird looking, suits the description and damage... probably a similar species. work mate (vege plant guru) says if pyrethrum doesnt work, try oil spray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 I'm sure that there are leaf miners as well ... are they responsible for all the holes as well as the tracks? I've been using some dish washing soap spray ... just a little as too much and my fish will be in trouble! These are much smaller than spider mites, and no webs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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