Re: Aphids and soapy spray

In article <48282bf8$0$912$ba4acef3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, 
davidinnormandy@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 says...
> Mary Fisher wrote:
> > I don't grow lupins because of the huge blue aphids which infested
them when 
> > I did.
> > 
> > There was a question on GQT about this yesterday. Someone said that
they 
> > were big enough to barbecue - as kebabs.
> > 
> > It amused me.
> > 
> > Mary
> > 
> > 
> 
> Yes, there seems to be all sizes from tiny to Godzilla. I'm surprised 
> the plant was still alive considering the amount of them sucking it's 
> sap. It was wilting and looked really poorly yesterday. Today it has 
> perked up and looking happy again.
> 
> I noticed the aphids had a bluish tinge about them so wasn't 100% sure 
> if they were aphids or blackfly. Are they a specific species that preys 
> on lupins?
> 
> 
Yes, Lupin aphids is what they are called! they came over from america in 
the 1980 and took hold in Cornwall because of the quantity of Tree lupins 
(they used to use them to stabilise the china clap waste tips) they 
quickly spread all over europe and unlike all the other aphids seem to 
actually kill the plant
-- 
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk 
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and 
Lapageria rosea