Bugs on lupins

Hi everyone, an update on the aphids situation...

I sprayed them with a solution of washing up liquid and water but they are still there. I've sprayed them a third time today and spent some time squishing the ones I could get my hands on.

I have three lupin plants and a second one now has them, though nowhere near as many as the first. I suspect the third will get them as it's very close to the second.

Is there anything else I can do (apart from find a ladybird - I found one but it seemed to be dead!) or do I just need to give it time? What does the soapy solution do to the aphids?

Another question - I have this plant (pictured) growing in the middle of the second lupin. Is this a plant or a weed? The wide spread of the lupin foliage has hidden it sufficiently for it to get well established!

I am going to post some more threads about other things I have found today...

 

I find this thread fascinating @wren1 . This is going to be my first year for lupins. I appreciate your coming back with updates and will be watching to see how you make out on this aphud invasion.

 

The washing up liquid breaks down their waxy coatings & kills them. May take a few sprayings but I'd do it at night when the bees aren't around & try to avoid the natural predators like Ladybirds who are helping you out

 

Thanks Mark. I've sprayed them a few more times since and squashed a few more. The buds are really starting to grow tall now and I want some nice flowers, not for the aphids to eat them all!

Where's a ladybird when you want one? I got to work the other day, felt an itch on my back. Turns out it was a ladybird and I killed it when absent mindedly itching!

 

Nothing quite like lupins Wren so persevere. I have several here ....one in flower and the rest not far behind.

 

Surprisingly I haven't had aphids on my lupins this year.. touch wood. Think they all went to one of my roses instead. Got quite a few of the brown ones on my cerinthe seedlings too.

 

Lupin update: I am at my wit's end with these aphids now. My lupins are covered in them. I have sprayed them with washing up liquid and water multiple times. Everyday I go out and squish as many as I can yet they are still having a party out there. The lupins are in full flower now and each flower is missing the top of the stalk off it as it has been eaten.

Is there anything else I can try, given the soap solution isn't working?

 

Right, I've found 3 ladybirds on my foxgloves and put them on the lupins and they are not happy. They don't seem to like them! I'm going to make some garlic spray, let it sit overnight and try that tomorrow. They are in full flower though, will that be a problem?

Edit: RHS says not to spray them when in flower.

 

So sympathise I have lovely Lupins which I grew from seed and they are smothered with Lupin aphid as well. I can't say the washing up liquid works here either. I have tried multiple times like you @wren1 and zero effect. Bring back Murphy's Tumble Bug, bet that would work. I am all for using as little pesticide as possible and have never used much in all my years of gardening but just sometimes needs must. I reckon I'll be lucky if I even see a flower. If there is nothing I can buy to sort the bugg..s out I might as well dig up the Lupins and bin them as evidently these pests over winter near their favourite food and then just reappear the next season

 

Better not post pics of my lupins then......got giant ones and aphid free
A spray of systemic insecticide before the flower spike forms but I ....touch wood....have not had the need to do this over recent years.
If you have aphids currently wreaking havoc with your lupins I suggest you do 2 things......cut off those flower spikes to buds lower down. Yes, drastic and takes courage. Then spray thoroughly with an insecticide. Then feed to encourage the secondary flowers. They will not be as big but you will have flowers, healthy aphid free flowers

 

Apparently Neem oil works on just about all bugs but I don't know whether it's EU legal.

 

I use neem oil now and then Sheal.....supposed to be effective as a fungicide too. I use it over winter on gooseberries for mildew and sawfly. Seems to be effective