What is this killing my herbs?

Hobbitfeet · 20-06-2013 8:08pm #1

Hope you can see from the pictures, in the last 2-3 days my basil and mint have started to fail especially the basil. What is this on it not moving doesn't look like eggs???

redser7 · 20-06-2013 8:23pm

It's greenfly.

Novaman · 20-06-2013 8:45pm

Is it not whitefly? I have these on my lilies coming into flower, I have been advised to spray them with a dab of washing up liquid diluted in 1 litre OF water, I've just done that carefully, hopefully this will eradicate them

(no insecticides as I am a bee lover

) Is this a good way?

NM

redser7 · 20-06-2013 9:31pm

Young greenfly are often confused with white fly. Also, greenfly shed their skin and the little white casings are confused with whitefly too. You may have whitefly but I'm pretty sure these photos are greenfly. Almost looks like dandruff.
I suppose anything that can kill aphids could kill other insects. It's a gamble. Organic growers would suggest growing certain types of flowers to attract aphid predators. Things like hover flies, lacewings, lady birds.

toddunctious · 20-06-2013 9:34pm

check under the leaves for the greenfly
and kill the b*stards

Hobbitfeet · 20-06-2013 10:29pm

Dandruff is a good description

it's hard to know what to do because its my herbs

redser7 · 20-06-2013 10:31pm

Spraying them with a jet of water from the hose is a good way. They may return but always in diminishing numbers. Very effective. Squishing is the ultimate

if you only have a few plants just blast them off.