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Post by DelawareJim on Dec 31, 2007 22:56:14 GMT
I recently received a S. purpurea that has a case of mealy bugs. It's growing in LFS. I've been hand swabbing with alcohol but I'm afraid they might be down inside the sphagnum.
What is the best treatment to get rid of these buggers?
Thanks.
Cheers.
Jim
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Post by Aidan on Dec 31, 2007 23:18:19 GMT
Alcohol is at best a control and you can spend years chasing them around.
Use a systemic insecticide. There will be eggs everywhere and it may take several applications to get them all.
Thread moved to Sarracenia board.
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Post by ICPS-bob on Dec 31, 2007 23:32:11 GMT
I have used acephate (Orthene) to control sucking insects (mealybugs, scale, aphids, etc) with great results and no observable damage to a wide range of CPs.
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Post by trimen1000 on Jan 1, 2008 1:52:33 GMT
Is it generally okay to apply systemic insecticides any time of the year?
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Post by Not a Number on Jan 1, 2008 4:16:16 GMT
You can probably put the plant pot and all into a small bucket and cover it completely with water for 2 or 3 days. This will drown the mealy bugs and their eggs. Sarracenia in general are very tolerate of immersion and S. purpurea even more so. Just make sure to keep the water from freezing. Let the pot drain well afterwards as the plant should be dormant and if the soil is kept too wet it could cause problems.
As Aiden said earlier you can spend years trying to remove them manually - mealy bugs will relocate when disturbed and there are thousands of tiny crevices and folds for them to hide in on the rhizome.
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Post by DelawareJim on Jan 1, 2008 15:14:31 GMT
Thanks all.
I was afraid if I applied a systemic it would cripple the plant. I've got Ortho Systemic, formerly Isotox, that I use for wooly adelgid on my hemlocks so I should be in good shape.
Cheers.
Jim
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Post by Not a Number on Jan 1, 2008 18:28:30 GMT
I was afraid if I applied a systemic it would cripple the plant. I've got Ortho Systemic, formerly Isotox, that I use for wooly adelgid on my hemlocks so I should be in good shape. It probably depends on the pesticide. Always check the product literature on usage as to how, when, where and on what plants and pests. The active ingredient of Isotox is acephate. There are no warnings as to seasonal usage in the literature. |
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Post by DelawareJim on Jan 2, 2008 1:41:35 GMT
Right. Read the label and use as directed.
Cheers.
Jim
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