new pest spotted in area

duajones · September 22, 2007

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Sep1707a.htm

Worth1 · September 24, 2007

Here is another link.

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/mealybug/mealybug.htm

Suze · September 24, 2007

Mealybugs are horrible pests to have. Very hard to get rid of.

I've never had problems with them on vegetables, but I used to really be into collecting coleus. I'd take cuttings in the fall, and overwinter them inside for planting out next year. At one time, I had close to 75 different varieties. They love coleus, and will just suck the life out of them. They can be treated to some extent with soap sprays or neem oil, but it has to be done again and again.

I just got tired of messing with it, so pretty much gave up. I grow/grew other things besides coleus, and just did not want to expend the time required for constantly treating and monitoring for them. Mealybugs can be effectively dealt with using periodic treatments of a systemic like Orthonex, but that wouldn't be practical or safe, as I overwintered plants inside, and could not take the chance one of my cats would munch on one and get sick. Besides, who wants to have plants in the garden that need to treated with systemics to succeed? I don't.

Another plant I used to like to grow and eventually gave up on because of mealybugs is Fatsia Japonica. It can really be an outstanding part-sun evergreen shrub alternative in a warm climate once established, with a nice "tropical" look.

Other plants I've grown in the past that mealybugs seemed to love include hibiscus, hollyhocks, begonias, and impatiens. Oh, and also Persian Shield, which is just lovely.

September 22, 2007	#1
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	new pest spotted in area http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Sep1707a.htm

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September 24, 2007	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Here is another link. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/mealybug/mealybug.htm

September 24, 2007	#3
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	Mealybugs are horrible pests to have. Very hard to get rid of. I've never had problems with them on vegetables, but I used to really be into collecting coleus. I'd take cuttings in the fall, and overwinter them inside for planting out next year. At one time, I had close to 75 different varieties. They love coleus, and will just suck the life out of them. They can be treated to some extent with soap sprays or neem oil, but it has to be done again and again. I just got tired of messing with it, so pretty much gave up. I grow/grew other things besides coleus, and just did not want to expend the time required for constantly treating and monitoring for them. Mealybugs can be effectively dealt with using periodic treatments of a systemic like Orthonex, but that wouldn't be practical or safe, as I overwintered plants inside, and could not take the chance one of my cats would munch on one and get sick. Besides, who wants to have plants in the garden that need to treated with systemics to succeed? I don't. Another plant I used to like to grow and eventually gave up on because of mealybugs is Fatsia Japonica. It can really be an outstanding part-sun evergreen shrub alternative in a warm climate once established, with a nice "tropical" look. Other plants I've grown in the past that mealybugs seemed to love include hibiscus, hollyhocks, begonias, and impatiens. Oh, and also Persian Shield, which is just lovely.