Insects attacking my lemon seedlings

@Alexandoy (65350)
Cainta, Philippines
June 18, 2020 5:24pm CST
There are 2 larvae of a flying insect that I caught eating the young leaves of the lemon seedlings in the front yard. I had sprayed them with vinegar but it rained yesterday so maybe they smelled fresh to the insects. I have yet to catch the flying insect that lays the eggs on the seedlings.
14 people like this
11 responses
@mrki444 (15150)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
18 Jun 20
Did you try with some anti insect remedy?
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Jun 20
I cannot try chemicals because we have dogs. The vinegar is at least not toxic.
4 people like this
@mrki444 (15150)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
18 Jun 20
@Alexandoy Lift them up so dogs can't reach them.
3 people like this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Jun 20
@mrki444 oh, our dogs are so nosy that they will investigate.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110763)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Jun 20
Maybe if you add some garlic juice to the vinegar or perhaps peppermint
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110763)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Jun 20
At least you can have one when you want one @Alexandoy
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110763)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Jun 20
You are a considerate host @Alexandoy
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
24 Jun 20
I added dish soap for good measure. They die instantly.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
20 Jun 20
That is really bad that insects are laying their eggs from your plants. Maybe if you put on a net of some sort so that they will have no access yo the plant while they are still starting on.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
20 Jun 20
@Alexandoy Then you have yo be extra vigilant since I know they will really feast on that if you neglect keeping watch on it.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
20 Jun 20
@rsa101 no problem with the monitoring. I have people on the watch.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
20 Jun 20
A net is much of a hassle.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57302)
• Centralia, Washington
18 Jun 20
I'm sorry about your lemon seedlings. Sometimes gardening is hard to do.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Jun 20
You are right. Gardening is not a simple task.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Jun 20
@sallypup the pests came when the rainy season started. Now I have to check my plants everyday.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57302)
• Centralia, Washington
18 Jun 20
@Alexandoy I'm trying to grow a few zucchini this year. In other years hard shelled bugs have destroyed the plants before I get anything. Right now the plant is green and healthy.
1 person likes this
@simplfred (20614)
• Philippines
18 Jun 20
It is time to spray better insecticides.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
18 Jun 20
I cannot use insecticides because we have dogs.
1 person likes this
@simplfred (20614)
• Philippines
18 Jun 20
@Alexandoy I hope you'll find something that cannot affect the dog.
1 person likes this
@simplfred (20614)
• Philippines
19 Jun 20
@Alexandoy If it is the butt. Then if you know someone who is change smoker gou may asked him a favor.
1 person likes this
@jayanth_77 (7180)
• India
19 Jun 20
I feel removing the larvae is the best solution. If you keep the plants exposed to sunlight the insects won't lay eggs.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
19 Jun 20
The plants are exposed to sunlight in the front yard. I check it every morning to remove if there is a larva. But usually the leaves have already been eaten.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
19 Jun 20
@jayanth_77 that is also my suspicion that the eggs hatch at night and the larva automatically eats the young leaves.
1 person likes this
• India
19 Jun 20
@Alexandoy I feel the leaves are being eaten during the night. Keep the plant away from other plants . Make a mixture of 1/2 litre water, 1/2 teaspoon detergent and 5 ml kerosene and spray on the plant stem and leaves. Your plants won't be infected again.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Jun 20
In the past I posted a discussion about the natural ways to avoid the insects. And one is using the vinegar. I told my parents since they plant a little vegetables at home. It seems it doesn't work very well as my dad still says that the worms almost eat up the vegetables
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Jun 20
@Alexandoy At least it doesn't work very well
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
19 Jun 20
I think the vinegar doesn't work on the worms.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
26 Jun 20
I hope that you can get rid of them.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
26 Jun 20
@Alexandoy that’s great
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
26 Jun 20
I think they are gone.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jun 20
Marguicha's suggestion sounds relatively easy.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (93615)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Jun 20
Sorry to learn that the insects eating your lemon seedings.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
19 Jun 20
It is already the rainy season here and that's their hatching season too. They lay eggs on the plants.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (93615)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Jun 20
@Alexandoy Thank you for sharing the story. It is hot in Louisiana at this time.
1 person likes this
@Janet357 (75678)
19 Jun 20
oh so vinegar can be an insecticide?
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
19 Jun 20
Yes, it instantly kills the ants. Vinegar is acid.