Article 12954 of rec.gardens:
Path: samba!concert!rock!stanford.edu!ames!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!icd.ab.com!iccgcc.decnet.ab.com!boldtp
From: boldtp@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (If ya think long, you'll think wrong.)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Need alternative to chemical pesticides
Message-ID: <1993Jan11.115214.9550@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com>
Date: 11 Jan 93 11:52:14 EST
References: <1992Dec28.220207.12425@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> <karpen-311292121042@shiva4175.nrl.navy.mil>
Followup-To: rec.gardens
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In article <karpen-311292121042@shiva4175.nrl.navy.mil>, karpen@nrlfs1.nrl.navy.mil (Judy Karpen) writes:
> 
> Part of controlling aphids is controlling the ants which carry 
> them onto the plants and tend them (Q: is this true for all aphids or just
> some varieties?). I haven't found the ideal solution, but cayenne barriers
> or sprays and similar techniques can help discourage ants. 

Controlling the ants that PROTECT the aphids needs to be your first
priority.  Solution: Mix Borax and Honey.  Leave around base of plant.
The Honey is the lure, the Borax does the nasty work.

It's not the lady bug's so much as their larve ( known as Aphid lions )
that will quickly clean the plants up.

Insectacidle (sp?) soap also works on aphids, but I don't think it's the
same as Ivory soap.




