These suckers have not responded "toes up" to my care. I have resorted to destroying any plant that has them. Cotton swabs and alcohol picks them off the stems and leaves but I suspect an underground cycle must be broken.
I do not know much about chemical treatments. I would make an exception this time if these Mealybugs keep showing up. What do you folks with this critter haunting you do?
FOLIAR MEALYBUGS
Hi Doc! Fancy meeting you here! LOL--Sorry the mealies found you. If you are dealing with foliar mealies, and it sounds like you are, a relentless hunt for them, armed with an alcohol soaked Q-tip usually does the trick. They are master hiders--especially at the soil line--try watering and see if any crawl up a stem. If that doesn't work, my next step is a neem oil product. My favorite is a product called Garden Safe--3in 1 Fungicide--it works well and is a safe for a myriad of problems. You can get it at most Garden centers/HD--etc.Some growers use a granular product mixed into the soil called Marathon or imclomipride(?sp.)--Also sold as Bonide in a small bottle at HD. Can someone please clarify that one for me?
There is such a critter as soil mealie--a totally different animal, that lives in the potting soil, and needs strong measures to eradicate. Soil mealies stay in the soil, make webs in the soil, and you will see tiny worms in the soil if you use a magnifying glass. Doesn't sound like you have those, but these bugs have the same common name and are sometimes confused. The soil mealies are far more serious, and many growers recommend that the infected plant be destroyed.
I think your foiliar mealies keep coming back b/c they are such good hiders and even though you think you got them all--you have missed some. Try the Safer spray--I'm sure others will jump in here and offer you equally effective alternatives--Good luck!
You can buy Bayers Advanced Tree and Shrub and mix as on the side for outside plants.......it is a systemic and you just pour it through the plant.
I read on gphiles that many gesneriad people are finding they can use it on african violets, streps, etc........if they cut back to 1 tsp to a gallon of water and pour through the inside plants.............
I haven't tried it but that is certainly less expensive than my marathon and Admire Pro that I keep stocked just for mealy bugs in the soil.
When I use the Admire Pro (that you can get from CApe Cod .....John Cook) I pour the solution through the plant and then let the plants sit (not 6 hours as recommended) but over night in a tray........
good luck but I would try the less expensive way with Bayers Advanced Tree and Shrub and all these products have the imidacloprid product that both kills the mealies in the soil. You have to remember that those little suckers will run and hide all over the pot and to the top, too. So pour through and let sit for at least 6 hours where the mealies can't hide in pockets in the soil, etc.
Bayers can be bought at any box store....like Lowes.
I was told that the Safer Spray is not effective for mealies (ken Froesbee from African Violet Nursery in Boerne, Texas)
Gail--Doc describes foliar mealies--a different animal than the more difficult to erradicate soil mealies. I woildn't expect any spray to be effective on soil mealies. The 'Garden Safe Fungicide 3' is effective on foliar mealy bugs.
sorry about that.........Phoebe........didn't see that and you are right.! I love that Garden Safe Fungicide for powdery mildew, etc..........
I just feel that if you have foliar mealy bugs, the soil mealybugs are not far behind (LOL)
OK...........so we learn by gabbing too! My giant pumpkin products included Merit 75 WP.
Guess what..........it is labeled for all mealybugs and is systemic for exterior and interior use. The chemical is imidaclopid a commonly known element in lessor strength by many other names. The application is 0.25 tsp per two and a half gallons of water for mealybugs. I have this in inventory. I will test on a single violet before going to an all plants treatment. I am willing to bet the fungus knats if any are hiding on me will also meet there maker.
I think those suckers are about to have a belly ache that will not quit. Right at the soil level is where they seem to hide or maybe that is were they begin their adult life. This Merit 75 is a commercial product that may be sprayed on and drenched at the same time. If watered through the pot and sprayed on pot and plant there should be little or no hiding places for them. It's effective soil life is ninety days. It can be cut in application and still build strength in the soil. It's effective life in the soil far outlives the life cycle in soil for mealybugs.
Once the safety per violets is proven I will treet all my pots. I only have a few now but I sure do not want a house full of these critters. I already know it is compatable with BT.
There ya go Doc! Ya had the answer the whole time! A lot of AV growers use Merit--Good luck!
My Bayer container also has the words "Merit" written on the front? I don't understand but gather it is one and the same chemical.
theres a merit 75 that is pretty darn good for soil and foliar,last year i found a outbreak on my violets and i used it when i watered,and boom, they all died,so i keep some on hand just incase,if your plants have a bad case then get rid of it,but a couple,that stuff will knock it out
JIM
Yes I did know the chemical name which led me to Merit 75 WP (wettable powder) 75% active ingredient. Inert 25%. The giant pumpkin growers go after squash vine bores, squash bugs and various spotted beetle all in the larva stage save a few adults that always somehow make it through the chemical fence. Those get their dose from the plant structure as well as from contacting other insecticides. It works very well and two treatments thirty days apart keeps a pumpkin patch clean when applied properly.
This strength calls for 0.25 tsp per two and a half gallons of water. I may have to make that much to control the chemical content. It is so good when making just a quart all you need do is mention the name of it. LOL I sure would not know how to make just a quart with any validity in chemical measurement.
Thanks to all of you who named the chemical or the product. That is what helped me know I had it in my pumpkin war chest. You would be surprised how many places will not help like that due to liability issues.
After testing I still will only be treating thirty or so pots which include all my house plants. I think two applications will do the job. If it does I may never have to use it again unless I import some more Mealybugs.
I know exactly how and where I got them. I have spoken to the company but doubt they will do anything. I'm not sure they could anyway. They did record where I purchased the product and sent me a credit for the total amount I had spent. Unfortunately the credit is for more of the same. I will never use it again in fear of importing the critters again. The name of the company will not be mentioned here because I can not absolutely prove my discoveries. Little man against a huge company......little man gets beat every time!
I've gone back to Pro Mix and my own adjustments for medium structure and compost with my own soil to carry the biology into my pots. I can rebuild the quality mediums I have used with no problems for all the time I have gardened.
Just be persistant and you will get them. Be sure to clean the shelf area and pots, saucers, etc also! I actually put rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and took the plant outside on my deck and sprayed under the leaves, on the leaves, soak it good all over, even the top of the soil. I dry the crown with a tissue, and set the plant in the shade till it dries off enought to bring back inside. I spray again 2 =3 weeks later. This is supposed to be drying for the plant, but I guess I have been lucky with no bad results. tish