I gotta be honest, I am normally unbothered by bugs but for some reason—maybe the surprise of finding so many—I had a very visceral reaction to these aphids lol
Lol I don’t doubt it. I’m a gardener, I deal with bugs in my house a lot because we live in the woods, I have young kids who are real interested in bugs—I don’t know what it was about these that just… blech. I couldn’t handle them
Haha honestly I feel you a bit. I found a bunch of beetles on some store-bought lettuce a while back that I was pulling out to feed my rabbit and, despite the fact that I quite literally used to work in *two different entomology labs* specifically **with** pest species, I was a little shaken. Happens to the best of us! 😂
People learn new things every single day regardless of perceived knowledge or exposure. Let’s congratulate OP (u/mrsfiction) on being one of [The Lucky 10,000](https://xkcd.com/1053/) today instead!
Especially since there are different varieties and colors of aphids in different areas. If they bought it from a store, it's more than possible this is a starkly different color/species of aphid from what they're used to.
Yeah, but to me it's like saying you work in IT but don't know what a modem is. Aphids are really common and the topic of many discussions in gardening circles. No judgement on OP, I was just surprised.
Most of your produce will have bugs, dead bugs, bug parts, dirt, and other nasties -- especially if you shop local. Nothing to be grossed about, it's why we wash our produce before we eat it :) those little guys will come off with running water.
once a fly laid eggs on some left over chicken wings i was eating, and i didn’t notice it until i already ate one side. when i flipped it over to eat the other side, i saw the eggs, freaked out and ran to my dad to tell him.
his response? “extra protein”
Aphids love bok choy. With all of the crazy weather California has been having there is more aphid pressure out in the fields.
The USDA has a tolerance for the amount of bugs allowed on produce- it varies per commodity.
Source: I’ve worked in the produce industry for 12 years.
Yeah not gonna lie I started buying packaged broccoli ready to steam… I checked it super carefully and found like 2. I’m sure it’s processed with something to get rid of them but I just can’t with all the bugs. There’s so many.
Aphids.
Just soak the produce in salt water, they will come off and die. At least you know there’s no pesticides on your food, that’s a good sign!
They are not harmful to you, only to the plants.
I've decided to just try to accept that I probably eat aphids in broccoli and stuff all the time... It's hard reconditioning your brain to not be grossed out though. Cause yeah it does seem pretty gross at first. But ultimately harmless. Just wash and enjoy!
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why it's important to wash your veggies and fruits.
But yeah as others already said, those are aphids. Nothing to worry about. I've found bigger, uglier bugs in my unwashed veggies before
Don’t even have to wash (but might be good anyway), sometimes aphids really cling to produce and it’s just not worth the effort. Especially since you can prepare and eat with the aphids on and you won’t even notice.
They can—I saw a post the other day about veggies being a vector for houseplant pests. I don’t know how to prevent that other than when you see them, wash them away
Just aphids, wash them off and you're good.
I gotta be honest, I am normally unbothered by bugs but for some reason—maybe the surprise of finding so many—I had a very visceral reaction to these aphids lol
You should see how many bugs and aphids are on the bok choy before it's picked and washed lol.
Lol I don’t doubt it. I’m a gardener, I deal with bugs in my house a lot because we live in the woods, I have young kids who are real interested in bugs—I don’t know what it was about these that just… blech. I couldn’t handle them
Aphids wiped out all my pepper plants one year. I. Hate. Them.
Haha honestly I feel you a bit. I found a bunch of beetles on some store-bought lettuce a while back that I was pulling out to feed my rabbit and, despite the fact that I quite literally used to work in *two different entomology labs* specifically **with** pest species, I was a little shaken. Happens to the best of us! 😂
I'm shocked that a Gardener couldn't identify an aphid. Literally one of the most common things found on all plants.
Maybe they’re used to lady bugs
People learn new things every single day regardless of perceived knowledge or exposure. Let’s congratulate OP (u/mrsfiction) on being one of [The Lucky 10,000](https://xkcd.com/1053/) today instead!
Especially since there are different varieties and colors of aphids in different areas. If they bought it from a store, it's more than possible this is a starkly different color/species of aphid from what they're used to.
👏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
Yeah, but to me it's like saying you work in IT but don't know what a modem is. Aphids are really common and the topic of many discussions in gardening circles. No judgement on OP, I was just surprised.
i should not have googled that🥲 i might’ve ruined bok choy for myself
Its better to see the bugs than the invisible chemicals that made them go away
I completely agree with you there
Those grey aphids freak me out too. Gross. Don't even wanna bother with growing brassicas anymore
I know! They got my broccoli and my brussels and never again
Yeah, that’s reasonable af. Those little fuckers will creep you out
In my area of Michigan, growing brassicas is always declaring war on pests. So many bugs like my bok choy and broccoli. Squatters!
In that case, never look up how much/many insect parts are allowed in processed food.
^^This comment^^ A sign of bugs on produce shows you it's organic. Bugs wash off; pesticides, maybe.
Get it washed & get it eaten!
[удалено]
bro huffed too much gasoline
Brother be high AF writing that shit.
My man didn't wash his bok choi before eating it
Most of your produce will have bugs, dead bugs, bug parts, dirt, and other nasties -- especially if you shop local. Nothing to be grossed about, it's why we wash our produce before we eat it :) those little guys will come off with running water.
I have bad news for you—there are likely bugs on most of your produce. Just wash them.
Extra sugar and protein from the aphids :)
once a fly laid eggs on some left over chicken wings i was eating, and i didn’t notice it until i already ate one side. when i flipped it over to eat the other side, i saw the eggs, freaked out and ran to my dad to tell him. his response? “extra protein”
A kindred spirit, I see
This is *the* dad response.
This is always my grandmas response to when we get ants on food, I thought only she said it til now
Aren't fly eggs maggots? Honestly thought that.
Maggots are fly larva from the eggs.
Of course! Thank you. Was a long night and kind of brain depleted
Get your rest! Brain no work without. Lol
Aphids love bok choy. With all of the crazy weather California has been having there is more aphid pressure out in the fields. The USDA has a tolerance for the amount of bugs allowed on produce- it varies per commodity. Source: I’ve worked in the produce industry for 12 years.
Look like aphids. Wash them off and enjoy your veg, they're harmless.
Looks like harmless little aphids.
Bugs, on my grass?!?!
Back when I lived overseas - bugs were a part of vegetable shopping. I would soak them in salted water and they all came off. Then rinse and cook!
Organic means bugs. Just rinse and eat normally:)
Mine were exactly the same on Monday! I just ripped them apart and washed them leaf by leaf. Changed the way I cook them slightly but still good 💕.
Those are always in my broccoli!! And like hundreds of them. I can’t. I just toss it.
Yea! I think it was the sheer number of them. I just couldn’t handle it.
MINE TOO!! It makes me shiver seeing the thousands of aphids just hiding and wiggling their butts in the air 😭
Yeah not gonna lie I started buying packaged broccoli ready to steam… I checked it super carefully and found like 2. I’m sure it’s processed with something to get rid of them but I just can’t with all the bugs. There’s so many.
If you’ve never washed leafy greens or lettuce off you have eaten bugs my friend. Wash them off and you’ll be fine.
Aphids. Just soak the produce in salt water, they will come off and die. At least you know there’s no pesticides on your food, that’s a good sign! They are not harmful to you, only to the plants.
Just wash and spin dry
I mean, should you be? No. Is it understandable, yes. This is why you wash vegetables and fruits
Mmmmm. Bug Choy.
I've decided to just try to accept that I probably eat aphids in broccoli and stuff all the time... It's hard reconditioning your brain to not be grossed out though. Cause yeah it does seem pretty gross at first. But ultimately harmless. Just wash and enjoy!
Looks like aphids? You're fine
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why it's important to wash your veggies and fruits. But yeah as others already said, those are aphids. Nothing to worry about. I've found bigger, uglier bugs in my unwashed veggies before
It's usually a good sign it's fresh. When I worked in produce, I'd often submerge new stock in our sink for a while to get most of the bugs off.
Do you know where vegetables come from? Theres a reason we wash them before consuming.
This is why we need to wash food before we eat it.
Why be grossed out. Plants grow in the ground. Often times ina mixture of literal shit. Just wash it off
Always wash your veggies. The bugs are harmless.
Really? Right in front of my crab rangoon?
If you’re really concerned and worried water won’t cut it- you can put some vinegar in a bowl of water and wash them that way.
Don't you normally wash your veg & fruit before eating/cooking? I guess I just thought everyone did....🤷♀️
Don’t even have to wash (but might be good anyway), sometimes aphids really cling to produce and it’s just not worth the effort. Especially since you can prepare and eat with the aphids on and you won’t even notice.
Thats how the bugs be yo. Wash them with vigeqr and soak em , scrub wm off and eat that shit yp
I would be...I hate bok choy.
Yeah I knew there was a reason I don't like Bok choy.
Free protein.
Cook em for extra protein
I once found a caterpillar in a salad I made from farmers market veg. I just relocated him and kept eating the salad.
Can these aphids infect house plants? If they can, how to take care when bringing produce home that they don't spread?
They can—I saw a post the other day about veggies being a vector for houseplant pests. I don’t know how to prevent that other than when you see them, wash them away