Tiniest white egg clusters on leaves

[Newby]

Hello all,

I've got the tiniest white egg clusters and individual eggs all over fan leaves after leaving the plants outside.

Any idea what these are?? I can see them under a 10X magnifier, but not so well without magnification (and I have good eyesight)

I've been spraying weekily with neem oil which seems to get rid of them, but I am curious what they are so when flowering time comes I can deal with them. I wonder if ladybugs would be the best at eating the eggs?

Help?

 

[Boss]

They could be a lot of things, any photos?

 

[Newby]

Photos uploaded, waiting for approval.

Interesting side note here. In the above post I've posted the thumbnail version of the photo which shows up, but not the full size yet since it has not yet (as of this writing) been approved.


Boy, where else in the world is there such a support staff as here at 420? Within minutes of posting a problem, anyone can have accurate answers. This is too cool!

 

[Newby]

The photos are now approved and ready for viewing.

 

[Boss]

Have you seem any mites?

Does it look like this in natural light?

 

[Newby]

Hi Boss,

First, thank you so very much for all your help.

No, I have not seen any mites as yet, these are only tiny round eggs at the moment. They are on the tops and bottoms of all leaves. I'm rinsing them off with water and then applying neem oil today.

Are mites the most likely? Since the eggs have not hatched, the plants are completely undamaged so far. These eggs were very densely deposited in only one day outside, so I am curious what put them there.

 

[Boss]

I think they are thrips. I think I see them in your photo, but not sure.

 

[420oclock]

Have any flypaper? You might be able to catch thrips/white flies/fungus gnats/aphids/whatever.

There are sticky yellow cards available:
Alternative Garden Supply - Hydroponics & Indoor Gardening Super Store

 

[Newby]

I'll try the paper and see how that goes. Thanks for the tip

 

[Racefan]

That paper might catch a few adults but it won't cure your problems. your going to "have" to either spray with a poison or use predators.

 

[Newby]

Agreed, but at least I'll have a better idea of what the pest is.

 

[Newby]

I now have actual leaf damage to show

Now I have more information - actual leaf damage. Please tell me what little bastards did this to my leaves! I'm guessing "Boss" is right and these are thrips?? Any suggestions of how to quickly kill them? I just thouroghly sprayed my plants with neem oil. I'll be neem oiling my plants twice a week from here out. I'm going to buy some permethrin spray and apply it tomorrow. Does this sound like a good plan?

Thank you again everyone for all your help!

 

[Boss]

Sounds like a great plan

 

[Racefan]

Thrips are sap suckers like mites. They live on your plants juices. I've fought thrips before just like I've fought mights. Thrips are nasty because they like to live in the bud area and the shit they leave behind is buried deep in the buds sometimes. I took my USB microscope out and inspected the dried buds of my grow that was infested by thrips and what I saw made me sick. Dead bugs everywhere and their shit piles stuck all over the place. I threw the whole harvest away. I know I wouldn't make it at Fear Factor now because I wouldn't smoke what they want you to eat.lol
I used pyrethrum spray to kill the bastards. The neem oil I applied didn't faze them. I imagined the bastards were applying it like suntan oil and laying out on blankets like they were at the beach.

 

[Boss]

^LOL I am not much of a neem fan anyway, not because it doesn't work, but the cleanup and effect on my pants. I would use the safest insecticide I could, was the plant with light soap and flush like hell for 2 weeks ;-) But that's me

 

[Newby]

I've now used a pyrethrin spray. I hope this stops them dead in their tracks. Come flowertime I can switch to ladybugs and they will be efective....yes?

 

[Boss]

I don't think so, lemme check.

 

[Boss]

Do a google search for canada-gardens. It will give you a ton of info on ladybugs.

They can be great in a garden, but are better off with a large variety of plants. Some say they are great, some say not a good choice.

 

[Boss]

Chances are what you just sprayed will kill anything in the room for at least 3 months ...