insects on my grape vines

[flafonta]

Hi,

My grape vines are intested with clusters of insects at the end of most vines (not on the leafs).

They are small (1/4") and seem to be sucking the sap. They even look like they are dancing :)

I see a few ants close to them, like if the ants were taking care of them ???

Any idea what they are and how can I get rid of them if they are damaging?

I searched a few sites on grape vines, and could not identify it.

Thanks,

[Kathe Kitchens]

My dad had these on his grapevines and I blasted them off with water and a little peppermint soap. They are aphids, and they are sucking the sap and the ants are harvesting their "dew".

Aphids are a sign of stress. So after I got rid of the bugs, we gave the vines a good foliar feed with compost tea and seaweed, and put some cornmeal in the ground around their feet. A good watering finished the job. So far he says they are happy and healthy with no sign of aphids returning.

Give it a try. It'll work. Depending on how much your vines are stressed you may have to do it again, but regular foliar feeding is a good way to keep them healthy and keep the aphids away.

Hope that helps! :D
Kathe :D

[flafonta]

Thanks for the answer.

Looks like nature has done its magic in the last few days.

The insects are all gone !!!!! :D

Maybe the hot weather in the last few days and the few lady bugs that roam in my backyard did the job "the natural way".

Thanks,

Francois

[Kathe Kitchens]

Ya-hoo! Yeah, we noticed a bunch of lady beetles in the back yard the next day. They must have finished them off.
Great! Hope the grapes are tasty!
Kathe

[Connie Tassin]

I just posted to the Pest forum about a similar problem. We've been spraying the bugs with with water, but they keep coming back.

Maybe I need to add the peppermint tea to the mix. May I ask what Peppermint tea is?

Thanks for all your help!