What are these bugs and how do I kill them?

November 7, 2013 11:33 AM

My hot pepper plant has gross little bugs on the undersides of some of its leaves since I brought it indoors for the winter last week. Pic 1, Pic 2. I also have little fruit flies (or gnats?) that I would like to kill that live in my aloe, mint, and sage. That funnel trick everyone recommends killed some but not nearly all. What can I spray on the plant and soil to get rid of the bugs and larvae without poisoning myself (when I eat the peppers/herbs) or the plants?
posted by rmless to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

Best answer: I take buggy plants outside and blast them with a hose to physically remove bugs. You can also use a soap spray. Both need to come in contact with the bugs to be effective. You'll have to repeat this every week or so. Avoid fetilizing with any nitrogen, as it attracts pests and pathogens.

The fungus gnats are harder. The dryer you keep the soil, the better. You can use a soil drench with Bt specifically for fly larvae. Bt for caterpillars will not work.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:57 AM on November 7, 2013

Oh, and the bugs look like aphids of some type. Maybe wooly aphids, but it's hard to tell from the photos.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:58 AM on November 7, 2013

I think they may be Mealy Bugs. Nasty little buggers.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how to get rid of them and have had to throw away 2 basil plants because of them :(
posted by JenThePro at 11:59 AM on November 7, 2013

Best answer: They could be aphids and/or mealy bugs. Insecticidal soap is definitely the way to go. I'm partial to Safer's.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 12:14 PM on November 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

I rid my rubber plant of mealy bugs (looks like them!) by washing it with hot soapy water (just normal dishsoap) thoroughly 2 or 3 times. I don't fancy doing that to basil.
posted by kadia_a at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2013

Best answer: Look like aphids that were on my pepper plant. Neem oil/soap spray is what I used to good effect.
posted by derward at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks, I made the homemade spray and am going to try it now. If it fails, I will order Neem or Safer's.
posted by rmless at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2013

Best answer: I've done the Bt soil drench thing to great success with some buggy houseplants. Buy a pack of mosquito dunks and drop one into your watering can. Fill it up and use it to water the plant and thoroughly wet it down with the stuff.
posted by jquinby at 1:26 PM on November 7, 2013

You have to persevere with the fruit fly trap until they're all gone, because each female can lay hundreds of eggs. Give it at least two weeks. If you still have flies, give it another week.

You also have to eliminate the places they can lay eggs, like fruit or other food or dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink, and flush out and/or cover all your drains, because they will lay eggs in there too. They will lay eggs anyplace that is moist and has the tiniest bit of organic matter - dirty sponges and washcloths, juices, spills and messes, open trash cans, the dishwasher, that leaky spot under the sink - you get the idea.

I found that while the paper-cone-in-a-mason-jar-with-cider-vinegar trap was effective, it wasn't nearly as effective as when I added a drop of dish soap to the vinegar. This breaks the surface tension so the little pests don't just get trapped, they drown. With the dish soap added you don't even really need to use a paper cone - you can just set out several uncovered bowls or jars of cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap, or cover the bowls with plastic wrap with some slits poked in it. Place them near your plants. Leave them alone until the flies are gone.
posted by caryatid at 6:26 PM on November 7, 2013