Revenge for the Hoyas!

For the past month I have caught glimpses of these illusive bugs on the Hoyas and Stapelias. I had lots of aggravation with aphids on the new Hoya growth and wondered if they were drawn to the aphids.

Well, I finally got a photo and an ID.

It will be interesting to hear if anyone knows a control for these bugs ... I found this info that says they have few predators but it doesn't say what those predators are! http://insected.arizona.edu/milkinfo.htm

This person says she squishes them! http://www.mymonarchguide.com/2008/05/milkweed-bugs.html

Squishing may be the solution because

Interesting, your AZ site had collection information... I could gather them and douse them with petrol and torch them right after I stabbed them with an ice pick... LOL

Oh, podster...don't hold back...after you do that, then will you be OK...back on your meds?...

HAHAHA

I feel that way about a lot of critters.

These little buddies lured me into thinkin' they were harmless, humble little buggers that just happened to be shy and pretty.

Their butts will be mine when I see them again! LOL

They MUST be good for something but I'll never know! 8 ))

pod ~ who intends to extract an ounce of flesh to avenge the hoyas!

So that is what those things are. They have been all over my hoya's. I think they might be seasonal because they are gone now. They reminded me of those darn lovebugs.
Uugh!!

Dee

LOL ~ on the love bugs. We have them too and they are nasty. At least they aren't Hoya poachers! 8 ))

Does anyone use Neem on their hoyas?

Jeri ~ I guess not. I've not tried it. Have you used it on your Hoyas?

I must admit, I started this thread as a heads up for others to not let these bugs stay on their plants as I did. Apparently, even though the milkweed and milkweed bugs are common around the country, no one else has encountered them. I am surprised.

Hi Pod!!! I have had the worst problem with mealie bugs this year and want to spray, drench everything before packing it away in the GH. I had looked up mealies because believe it or not I have not had this problem before and everyone recommended Neem Oil, so I ordered some and when it came it it said that it was for leaf shine. So before I ruined everything I thought I had better get the answer from the experts. When no body answered I dmailed Carol and she recommended BATS.

Thanks for replying!!! I was beginning to think I also had leprosy in addition to mealies!!!! LOL!!!!

LOL ~ I honestly didn't respond as I have no Neem experience ~ sorry.

I do use BATS and need to again before I offer winter protection. I am sure she suggested allowing your plants soil to be quite dry before treating. Then soak it well with the BATS solution and allow it to dry again before resuming watering. That works well. I didn't BATS these Hoyas earlier as I wasn't sure if these were good/bad bugs. Couldn't get them to hold still for a photo so I could get an ID till this I caught this pair. Next year I'll know better.

How often do you use BATS? Once a year or on a regular basis to prevent the problems?

Always in the fall of the year before putting the plants in winter storage. LOL I don't do all plants though, just the succulents and Hoyas.

I may have to do it one time during the summer if the mealies get really bad. I had root mealies on the succulents soooo bad a year ago and this was the only way I could cure them.

I have tried neem oil as a mealie treatment and I'm sure it can be effective if used regularly. The problem I have is that all of my plants are in the house, and that stuff stinks. So I'd have to take each and every plant to the bathtub on the second floor of my house to treat them by spraying the surface of each leaf, the stems, the soil and the pot, as well as a drenching watering. I did this twice, about 2 weeks apart. The plants were not happy with being disturbed (or the neem, not sure which); buds would blast, flowers would fall off.

When the mealies came back anyway (I can't remember how much later), I still had under 100 plants at that point but it was just too time-consuming a job to face so I got some BATS. Wear rubber gloves, drench each plant, keep a rag handy for overflow; when finished drenching, start over and dump the dish under each plant into another container. And yes, don't water again until they've dried out. And, buds do not blast, flowers do not fall off. I did detect an odor from some of the pots though but this stops once the pots have dried out. I timed it their treatment this year so that I used the overflow on my tropicals that I had outside shortly before bringing them inside the house for the winter.

I have used neem since then as a spider mite erradicator and it works really well. Spray and drench as above, but segregate the plant by sealing it in a clear plastic bag for a few days; leave it in the bag for another week, but opened. Treat again after about 10 days, seal the bag up again for another few days. I never saw another spider mite.



Christine

Thank you both for the info. I guess I won't be doing the BATS today after all the rain we've been having!!!

I have found that when the plants are really dry, it is best to let them sit in the water with BATS for at least 15 mins. The optimum is to drench them when they not powder dry...for better retention in the soil.

Carol

I had been told when totally dry they would draw up more but moisture does just run thru too quickly so that would make sense.

Christine ~ I always wonder where the mealies come from. Your plants are in a controlled environment ~ I've seen how mealies can float or jump outdoors but in?

They came in on another plant before I had the eagle eye I do today and before I had the wits about me to segregate new additions to my "controlled environment". When I see any white on a plant now, I go "postal" with spray alcohol before I even touch it to see what it is (yes, I've had some silly moments...). Always, always separate new additions for a few weeks - even better, treat them as if they are infested by spraying them with alcohol just in case.

I see, imported tourists. Ugh!!! You spritz the whole plant with undiluted alcohol?

Yes, undiluted rubbing alcohol, which is fairly dilute actually. It doesn't hurt the plant at all, just don't put it in the sun until the alcohol dries, which is fast. Drug stores carry it in a spray bottle (spray hydrogen peroxide too). I bought one once, now I just buy a bottle of alcohol and refill the spray bottle.

Carol (I think) had a story years ago about a young worker pouring alcohol over and through one of her plants and (after her heart attack..lol) she found there was no damage to the plant whatsoever.

Oh, and if it is a mealie you just happen to blast away with the alcohol, it turns brown and you can jump up and down and say "yay, I killed one"!!



Christine

That story was too funny Christine!!!

Do you mean they turn brown when you kill them?

Yes, the alcohol does turn the ugly white mealies brown. Its a very satisfying thing once you've experienced it. Some people like to use Q-tips or a piece of cotton swabbing to wipe them away, and that works too with the big ones, but I'd spray afterwards anyway, just in case. The hatchlings are really small and easy to miss.

LOL ~ I can do that easily!!!

LOL ~ I can do that easily all the while stomping him into the topsoil!!!

I know that years ago MelTNs son, Brad, poured a whole bottle of alcohol thru a plant thinking it was water and Mel was so worried...and flushed it and flushed it...the plant was unaffected but poor Mel!!!

Ah, yes, Mel, not you. I got my enablers mixed.