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In the Grow - July
2002 Q. An insect is killing my schefflera. It gets white, fuzzy-looking places on it that feel soft, and you cannot see the insect that is working on it. Finally, it will kill the leaf if not removed. I wash the leaves from time to time with soap and water, and last time a little bleach. It works for a while. I even tried a fungus product and worked it in the soil after giving the plant a bath. Help! I like the plant but need to know what to use on it. -- Janice Corwin A. Mealybugs congregate where the leaves attach to the stem or around major veins on the undersides of leaves. They appear to be dusted with a fine, white flour and, sometimes, have long, waxy filaments extending from their bodies. They are slow-moving, wingless insects that are protected by their waxy covering. They remove plant juices with their sucking mouthparts, resulting in yellow, distorted leaves. Spraying plants with forceful streams of water often washes off and kills smaller insects. Individual insects can be removed with a toothpick or tweezers. Or you can wet or remove each insect with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. You must recheck the plant every two weeks or so to be sure you have removed all of the insects. Alternatively, you could treat the plant with an insecticide. Resmethrin and insecticidal soaps are listed for mealybugs. You can make your own insecticidal soap by mixing 4 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid per quart of water. Don't spray on any flowering plants or particularly sensitive plants like African violets or ferns. The fungicide you applied will only protect a plant from fungal pathogens and will not have any affect on insects or other pests. Be sure to identify the particular problem before using pesticides. It's better for your health, the environment, the plant in question and your pocketbook! |
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Story Resources
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Garden Flowers
Fruits & Vegetables
Lawn Care
Landscape Plants
Insects, Pests, & Diseases
Indoor Plants
The information contained in this web site
is specific to the state of Indiana and may not apply in other states.
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