Mealy bugs on Amorphophallus.

From: Neil Gordon neil at ng23.abelgratis.co.uk> on 2003.11.14 at 20:55:18(10802) Ive got an infestation of Mealybugs on my A. Bulbifer. They seem immune to everything i spray on them, and keep coming back. Has anyone got any tips on getting rid of them. It looks like the Amorphophallus is the only one of my plants affected by them. +More Neil

From: Dan Levin levin at pixar.com> on 2003.11.14 at 22:54:25(10803) Neil- I also had the misfortune of a mealybug invasion some time ago. Kinder & gentler methodologies aside, the only effective approach was the repeated use of systemic insecticides. In my case, a two installment spray/ drench application of Merit (= Imidacloprid) spaced 3 - 4 weeks apart resulted in complete control with zero phytotoxicity noted on any of my very mixed collection. As you've noticed, mealy's can be difficult pests to eradicate. This is especially so if your plants have been targeted by "root mealybugs"; surface/ contact sprays never seem to completely eliminate them. You would also be well advised to treat your entire collection; at the very least all of those plants growing in the same area as your bulbifer. In my experience there is no such thing as a mealybug infestation limited to just a single plant (well, this assumes you're growing more than just one plant!), especially if the pests have been evident for some time. +More Best of luck, -Dan Neil Gordon wrote: > Ive got an infestation of Mealybugs on my A. Bulbifer. > They seem immune to everything i spray on them, and keep coming back. > > Has anyone got any tips on getting rid of them. > > It looks like the Amorphophallus is the only one of my plants affected > by them. > > Neil

From: Neil Gordon neil at ng23.abelgratis.co.uk> on 2003.11.15 at 03:07:14(10805) Ive taken to just squashing them when i see them, ill have to be a bit more intense with the sprays then. Nearly all of my other plants are succulents and caudiciforms, and apart for some Aloes, ive not seen them on any other plants, but theyre coming from somewhere! Thanks for the advice. Neil +More On Friday, November 14, 2003, at 10:54 pm, Dan Levin wrote: Neil- I also had the misfortune of a mealybug invasion some time ago. Kinder & gentler methodologies aside, the only effective approach was the repeated use of systemic insecticides. In my case, a two installment spray/ drench application of Merit (= Imidacloprid) spaced 3 - 4 weeks apart resulted in complete control with zero phytotoxicity noted on any of my very mixed collection. As you've noticed, mealy's can be difficult pests to eradicate. This is especially so if your plants have been targeted by "root mealybugs"; surface/ contact sprays never seem to completely eliminate them. You would also be well advised to treat your entire collection; at the very least all of those plants growing in the same area as your bulbifer. In my experience there is no such thing as a mealybug infestation limited to just a single plant (well, this assumes you're growing more than just one plant!), especially if the pests have been evident for some time. Best of luck, -Dan

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid (prive)" hetter at worldonline.nl> on 2003.11.15 at 06:00:31(10807) Dan, Did you indeed eradicate root mealy bugs too with that Merrit stuff? How do you apply it as systemic stuff? Do you drench the soil when the Amorph is growing? Cheerio, Wilbert +More > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- > Van: aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu > [mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]Namens Dan Levin > Verzonden: vrijdag 14 november 2003 23:54 > Aan: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > Onderwerp: Re: [aroid-l] Mealy bugs on Amorphophallus. > > > Neil- > > I also had the misfortune of a mealybug invasion some time ago. > Kinder & gentler methodologies aside, the only effective approach > was the repeated use of systemic insecticides. In my case, a two > installment spray/ drench application of Merit (= Imidacloprid) spaced > 3 - 4 weeks apart resulted in complete control with zero phytotoxicity > noted on any of my very mixed collection. > > As you've noticed, mealy's can be difficult pests to > eradicate. This is > especially so if your plants have been targeted by "root mealybugs"; > surface/ contact sprays never seem to completely eliminate them. > > You would also be well advised to treat your entire collection; at the > very least all of those plants growing in the same area as > your bulbifer. > In my experience there is no such thing as a mealybug infestation > limited to just a single plant (well, this assumes you're growing more > than just one plant!), especially if the pests have been evident for > some time. > > Best of luck, > > -Dan > > > > Neil Gordon wrote: > > > Ive got an infestation of Mealybugs on my A. Bulbifer. > > They seem immune to everything i spray on them, and keep > coming back. > > > > Has anyone got any tips on getting rid of them. > > > > It looks like the Amorphophallus is the only one of my > plants affected > > by them. > > > > Neil > > > >

From: rajshekhar misra rajshekharmisra at yahoo.com> on 2003.11.15 at 08:17:16(10809) Neil Mealy bugs on Amorphophallus is a serious problem. If allowed to multiply, the sprouting of the tubers is affected. I encounter this problem every year when I store my tubers for next season planting. If the mealy bugs are visible on freshly harvested tubers, the problem is compunded. +More I generally get the tubers physically rubbed with coarse jute bag pieces to remove the mealy bugs. After that I dip the tubers in Monocrotophos (0.05%) solution for 5 minutes and dry them in shade before storing. The mealy bugs will again appear after one month. The same treatment is repeated. You need to give two to three treatments during storage to control mealy bugs. Mealy bugs also attack Colocasia, Xanthosome and Dioscorea tubers in my store but they are more severe on Amorphophallus and Colocasia. R.S.Misra --- Neil Gordon wrote: > Ive taken to just squashing them when i see them, > ill have to be a bit > more intense with the sprays then. Nearly all of my > other plants are > succulents and caudiciforms, and apart for some > Aloes, ive not seen > them on any other plants, but theyre coming from > somewhere! Thanks for > the advice. > > Neil > > On Friday, November 14, 2003, at 10:54 pm, Dan > Levin wrote: > > > Neil- > > > > I also had the misfortune of a mealybug invasion > some time ago. > > Kinder & gentler methodologies aside, the only > effective approach > > was the repeated use of systemic insecticides. In > my case, a two > > installment spray/ drench application of Merit (= > Imidacloprid) spaced > > 3 - 4 weeks apart resulted in complete control > with zero phytotoxicity > > noted on any of my very mixed collection. > > > > As you've noticed, mealy's can be difficult pests > to eradicate. This > > is > > especially so if your plants have been targeted by > "root mealybugs"; > > surface/ contact sprays never seem to completely > eliminate them. > > > > You would also be well advised to treat your > entire collection; at the > > very least all of those plants growing in the same > area as your > > bulbifer. > > In my experience there is no such thing as a > mealybug infestation > > limited to just a single plant (well, this assumes > you're growing more > > than just one plant!), especially if the pests > have been evident for > > some time. > > > > Best of luck, > > > > -Dan > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree

From: colin howells latisectus2003 at yahoo.co.uk> on 2003.11.15 at 11:14:54(10811) Hi Neil, I use a cheap artists paintbrush and methylated spirits to get rid of them on my cacti. It works o.k. and the plants come to no harm. The only problem is that you have to persevere with the treatment and keep your eyes open for any further infestation. The problem with mealy bugs and scale is penetrating the outer coat. Hope this helps. Regards Colin. Neil Gordon wrote:Ive got an infestation of Mealybugs on my A. Bulbifer. They seem immune to everything i spray on them, and keep coming back. Has anyone got any tips on getting rid of them. It looks like the Amorphophallus is the only one of my plants affected by them. +More Neil --------------------------------- Want to chat instantly with your online friends??Get the FREE Yahoo!Messenger

From: Dan Levin levin at pixar.com> on 2003.11.16 at 23:41:48(10820) Sir Wilbert, > Did you indeed eradicate root mealy bugs too with that Merrit stuff? Yes, I did. Merit is a slow but rather effective systemic insecticide. It is a chloronicotinyl compound which disrupts the post synaptic nervous system in a number of specific plant sucking pests, root mealybug included. That said, it's not worth beans as a miticide/ acaricide. I've also observed little to no efficacy against fungus gnats, but then it's not labeled for any of those particular pests- so there you go. Imidacloprid (Merit, Marathon) is most commonly used here in the states on turf (for cutworms, grubs, etc.), trees (often injected to control chafers, borers, etc.) and as an alternative to Chlordane in structural pest control (subterranean termites in soil). Imidacloprid exhibits very low mammalian toxicity, relatively speaking. > How do you apply it as systemic stuff? Do you drench the soil when the Amorph is > growing? +More Precisely-- a simple soil drench followed by a light watering in within 24 hours. Very little product is required for treatment; 1 tsp. of the 75 WP/ 10 gal. water, equivalent to 15 grams / 100 gal. water. In my case, I initially applied it as a foliar spray for a faster knock-down of the adventitious adult/ crawler stages. Imidacloprid will translocate both upwards & downwards within the plant but is optimally taken up by the roots. Spraying was immediately proceeded by a good drenching of every pot, to the point of just draining off. I then watered everything in a bit the next morning for good measure. Though Merit is noted for its long persistence in the soil (can last many months), personal experience suggests making a follow up drench approx. 4 weeks later to achieve root mealybug eradication in greenhouse/ pot culture. If I recall correctly, all of my tuberous aroids were in active growth at the time of infestation so I have no data to offer re: treating dormant tubers; though I would think the inherent systemic properties of this compound would still prevail and any lurking root mealy's would be eliminated. Certainly can't imagine such an application could do any harm, unless it induced rot due to excessive moisture in the pot. Hope this answers your questions and you haven't fallen asleep before reaching this part, -Dan p/s- Egads Wilbert! I suddenly realize that I'm extremely remiss in sending you this year's edition of US presidential portrait(s). PLEASE accept my most sincerest apologies in this regard. Will write directly under separate cover...

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