The Great Mealy Bug War of '07-'08

[susiep]

Here in South Florida we have a particularly bad breed of mealy bug that can completely destroy huge hedges of hibiscus and large sago palms. For pics go to: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_heal...nformation.pdf Luckily it doesn't favor orchids. I battled this bug for years and finally got rid of all the Sagos and some of the hibiscus hedges. They actually destroy the bark and roots. The only thing that works is Bayer systemic (and I use Orthene, too). The county has released "good" insects to destroy the mealies so they ask us not to use poison. But when I do see a mealy on my orchids, I attack quickly with Orthene. The Bayer makes the leaves on the hibiscus turn yellow and fall off so I have been afraid to use it on my orchids. By the way, the mealy problem got out of control in my yard because I had a big butterfly garden and didn't want to use any poisons near it. Bayer systemic is the way to go if your plants can tolerate it.

[susiep]

Des, check out page 9-13 of the linked article in the previous post. It has the life cycle, etc.

[Tindomul]

Thanks all for chipping in with comments. Interesting to see how everyone deals with the scourge.
Tim, I can't believe you lost such a nice plant as C. perciviliana! So sad.

[Orchidophile]

It is wierd the way they only attack my plants when I bring them in for the winter. The only pest I have outdoors are the occasional slug and the squirrels, they are lucky they can move so fast.

[kiki-do]

Hi Tim, I don't know if this is fact or not, but I was told that hot conditions and poor air circulation makes these bugs thrive. I try to have a humidifier and a fan on as often as possible. Especially in the winter as I have a woodstove going and it gets dry and warm in my home. So far, no problems.
I had beautiful bloomed orchid last summer that I bought and it became loaded with mealy bugs. One of my orchid books said that a used cigarette filter (paper removed) stuck into the medium is a natural insecticide and I was so worried about eggs in the medium, so I tried it and it worked. However, since then many on OB say it can harm your orchid. Some type of disease resulting from tobacco residue. Luckily, it did not harm my orchid.

[Orchidophile]

I think that might be my problem kiki, I'v been using my fan more and they seem to have gone away. Interesting about the cigar filter.

[Dorothy]

I have used a tea of cigarette butts with equal parts of water and isopropyl alcohol on scale that were on my orchids and it worked - it didn't harm the plants at all .. I am going to try it on some African violets that I have seen with a few mealies .. I have not had a problem with TMV .. Tobacco Mosaic Virus - as the tobacco plants found with this virus are destroyed previous to product manufacturing .. There are past threads about it on the board .. Just type in tobacco in the search option and they will be listed

[vmax3000]

They have a flying stage??? I have been using a product called Sun Oil (horticultural with a surfactant on board, so it doesn't float on the top of the water. Since I started greenhouse growing, I haven't had a season where I don't see one or two (and of course, we all know that it's the ones you don't see that are up to something.... ). So, I keep a bottle handy to handle the outbreaks as I run across them. I found a product at the WOC called BotaniWipes. It's a neem soaked wipe that can clean up the leaves, but the accompanying literature says something about bug death...which I am all for in my greenhouse . I have yet to try it, but will report any results, as I have them! I haven't had any problem with my terrarium, yet.... I have a load of empathy for you, regardless...

[Des]

These guys are just about bullet proof so good luck, i think that the only way to kill them is to buy a pair of size 10 army boot and stomp on them !

[Dorothy]

... Des