Boisduval Scale. Ugh. How do I get rid of it.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

Thanks, I'm off on a hunt on Monday to see if I can find some stuck at the back of a shelf in some little out of the way shop!

Yes, those small agricultural stores in small towns might have some left.

[estación seca]

Imidacloprid granules are still sold in Arizona at Ace Hardware Stores as a treatment for lawn grubs. A liquid concentrate is sold for use on tree grubs.

I have successfully eradicated boisduval scale on multiple occasions by dunking a plant entirely under slightly soapy water and letting it sit there for 8-12 hours.

[SouthPark]

I bought on ebay some imidacloprid granules. And I just pop a little bit of the granules into a spray bottle, and add water ------ then a bt of a shake up after closing up the spray bottle. Instant imidacloprid spray. Alternatively, for chilli plants grown in soil, just sprinkling some sprinkles into the soil around the plant is pretty good too, while the spray can get some immediate protection going on the outside.

[Roberta]

Actually, I wonder if you really want to be using a systemic on something that you're going to eat... because it's going to end up in the fruit as well as the rest of the plant you're trying to protect.

[estación seca]

For what it's worth - Eating vegetables treated with imidacloprid (a synthetic nicotine analogue) is far less toxic than smoking tobacco.

[Roberta]

Well, yes... actually the toxicity of imidacloprid is pretty low for humans (would not consider poisoning myself with tobacco anyway). But on general principles, on food I'd rather use something that can be washed off.

[SouthPark]

Roberta ------ true. I generally just apply to the chilli plants, and leave it for quite a relatively long time before I pick any chilli for eating.

The california reaper chilli plants are readily available these days. I just grow 'bird eyes' (which are just spread around naturally by birds over here hahaha), and the california reaper. I only grow the california one for fun - so rarely even try that one hahahaha. It's only for 'backup' in case some guests say a chilli is not 'hot enough'. The california reaper will generally sort it heheheh.

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Well, yes... actually the toxicity of imidacloprid is pretty low for humans (would not consider poisoning myself with tobacco anyway). But on general principles, on food I'd rather use something that can be washed off.

imidacloprid is fairly safe for humans. it's pretty devastating to the environment, especially aquatic food webs. insect population decline is a serious issue of our time. I get that a lot of people here live in areas where there are a lot of bugs, and that they are a pain, but a world without bugs is a less productive world. letting imidacloprid and other neonicotinoids runoff into your property/sewer is irresponsible, even if its legal to do so.

[Roberta]

Which is why I don't use pesticides prophylactally, and also apply surgically only to affected plants. I'll use a spray bottle (squeezed by hand), directed at the affected part of the plant and its roots. So what gets into the environment isn't zero, but it is very small. A bottle of Bayer's Advanced 3-in-1 concentrate lasts me a 2-3 years. My bottle of Safari granules will probably last for the rest of my life at the rate that I use it. I sure wouldn't use either one on food crops.