lupin aphids absorb the bitter alkaloids in the recent hybrid lupins and poison their predators including ladybugs. planting the original russel lupins-lupinus polyphyllus-sweet lupin- will help. lupin aphids are almost unknown here in the western usa because the native wild lupins are overwhelmingly polyphyllus.
Thats interesting David ....most of mine are russell type grown from seed, but I have a few of the named varieties too....will keep an eye out for the difference.
I also tried tree lupins, but the fat aphids liked those just as much as any of the others. Will be interested to see which ones do not get infested, if any - good luck with the testing.
chicky it's interesting, i think, that the lupin aphids became a pest at the same time as the new hybrids-deeper colors and bicolors-started appearing. because lupins are so promiscuous it is apparently difficult to find true strain russel seeds.
Lupin's are by far and away my favourite plant, I have 33 in my garden to be precise, The Lupin aphid really can be a nightmare, I've tried pesticides and spraying them off, These methods don't work, Although 99% wingless they still crawl back on the plant, This sounds quite disgusting and time consuming but the best way to control them once you notice an invasion is to squash them with your hands, I know there can literally be hundreds or thousands in which case as there wingless, hold a big bucket and shake off or run them off with your hands into the bucket. I'm afraid once I've finished removing them its a visit under the hot tap for them. They can seriously make a lupin plant lose vigour, So better to act upon first signs of noticing them on your plants. David.
My Lupins were the Russell variety and stunningly elegant, but within a week they were decimated. I tried to hose them off and pick them off, but they were like horrid reporducting aliens from a horror film and kept coming back. They were just a bit smaller than a ladybird, and really round and fat! I live in a small estate that has mostly cottage gardens and mine was the only garden affected. The only difference is my house is the council planted a cherry tree for Charles and Diana's wedding in the 80's and its now the size of an oak, casting a huge shadow only in my garden. Could it be this shadow thats keeping the garden cooler allowing them to thrive??
Im going to attempt to grow lupins again, and keep a vengeful watch on them daily. Will report and take photos of any invasion, !!!!
Hoping you don't get infested again is your only choice if you aren't prepared to spray against this foreign invader which has no native predators. Nothing to do with the tree I'm afraid as areas in the US where they originated get much hotter than it ever does here in the UK.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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lupin aphids absorb the bitter alkaloids in the recent hybrid lupins and poison their predators including ladybugs. planting the original russel lupins-lupinus polyphyllus-sweet lupin- will help. lupin aphids are almost unknown here in the western usa because the native wild lupins are overwhelmingly polyphyllus.
Thats interesting David ....most of mine are russell type grown from seed, but I have a few of the named varieties too....will keep an eye out for the difference.
I also tried tree lupins, but the fat aphids liked those just as much as any of the others. Will be interested to see which ones do not get infested, if any - good luck with the testing.
chicky it's interesting, i think, that the lupin aphids became a pest at the same time as the new hybrids-deeper colors and bicolors-started appearing. because lupins are so promiscuous it is apparently difficult to find true strain russel seeds.
Lupin's are by far and away my favourite plant, I have 33 in my garden to be precise, The Lupin aphid really can be a nightmare, I've tried pesticides and spraying them off, These methods don't work, Although 99% wingless they still crawl back on the plant, This sounds quite disgusting and time consuming but the best way to control them once you notice an invasion is to squash them with your hands, I know there can literally be hundreds or thousands in which case as there wingless, hold a big bucket and shake off or run them off with your hands into the bucket. I'm afraid once I've finished removing them its a visit under the hot tap for them. They can seriously make a lupin plant lose vigour, So better to act upon first signs of noticing them on your plants. David.
My Lupins were the Russell variety and stunningly elegant, but within a week they were decimated. I tried to hose them off and pick them off, but they were like horrid reporducting aliens from a horror film and kept coming back. They were just a bit smaller than a ladybird, and really round and fat! I live in a small estate that has mostly cottage gardens and mine was the only garden affected. The only difference is my house is the council planted a cherry tree for Charles and Diana's wedding in the 80's and its now the size of an oak, casting a huge shadow only in my garden. Could it be this shadow thats keeping the garden cooler allowing them to thrive??
Im going to attempt to grow lupins again, and keep a vengeful watch on them daily. Will report and take photos of any invasion, !!!!
Thanks for all answer so far
Hoping you don't get infested again is your only choice if you aren't prepared to spray against this foreign invader which has no native predators. Nothing to do with the tree I'm afraid as areas in the US where they originated get much hotter than it ever does here in the UK.