Nasty!

Yesterday, Mark and I decided that it was far too hot to do much of anything so.....we did my favorite thing!  We went fishing!  Yep, the sun was glaring down upon us and I got a mite sunburned but any time spent with a line in the water is a good time!  Our only good catch for the day was a small flounder which I "accidentally" let slip back into the water.  No use killing a small fish..that little fish earned a reprieve.  He would not become supper..at least for another day!  As we walked back up the pier toward the Little Bayou House, Mark noticed some white, frothy goo on some of the marsh plants.  We took a few minutes to discuss the gunk before heading up the hill.

Horse Spit..Frog Spit..or just Spittle Bugs.  All three are accurate names for what was slathering around on the bushes. I looked around for the culprits but could not see any of the adult bugs. Spittle Bugs or Froghoppers lay their eggs on the stalk of a likely plant and when the eggs hatch the larvae soon attach themselves to the plant.  They more or less suck the plant dry of any of its life juices and well, sort of "excrete" most of it out on the stalk of the plant.  This "spittle" then acts as an protective agent for the little buggies!  It insulates them from the heat and cold, provides moisture control and since it tastes so bad..protects them from predators.  I was not overly worried about the Spittle Bugs declaring squatting rights to the marsh plants.  Those plants are not under my care!  But....

As we neared the terraced part of the wood path, he pointed out that the daisies were covered with the same spit!  Arggh!  Not my daisies!  They were all just starting to bloom!  Something would have to be done!  I consulted Son on the fact.  He suggested that I try the same stuff that I had concocted to battle the powdery mildew that hit the peach trees last year.  The spray had done well to clear that mess so perhaps the Froghoppers could be eradicated in the same way.   Good thinking!  I would definitely mix up another batch.  This stuff is easy to make and works wonders on the powdery mildew.  We shall see if it can combat the Spittle Bug as well!

To make the spray, simply mix together a gallon of water, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of  biodegradable liquid soap.  Stir this well and then either put it in a spritz bottle or use a wide paint brush to just slosh it on the tree trunk. On the peach trees, Michael just sort of whitewashed the trunks with the goop.  Within just a couple of days...no powdery mildew!  I suppose with the Spittle Bugs, I will have to use the spritz bottle method as the stalks of the daisies may not hold up under a brutal attack with a five inch paint brush!  Today was blueberry-picking day so the daisies will get a "whitewashing" tomorrow!  Hopefully, I will be able to have a good report about this same stuff working again but in the meantime..my daisies look awful!!!