Hello all. I have a rapidly growing pest problem. We've had ten days of rain and overcast weather here in South Mississippi (south central). Many of my shrubs have white fluffy stuff on the branches. I've attached a photo. This problem is affecting red tipped photinas, forsythia, cape honeysuckle, camellia, lemon tree, winterberry, etc. Can anyone help ID this problem and recommend a solution? Thanks for your assistance. Deborah.
I believe it's whiteflies.
http://www.ghorganics.com/whiteflies.html
Pests that cling like that could be something like mealy bug or one of the aphids, or a scale. There is a group of aphids with a white waxy coating. 'Wooly Apple Aphid' is one of this group that targets apple and close relatives. I do not think yours is actually wooly apple aphid, but maybe related.
Dig around among the white stuff and see if you can isolate a bug.
White Flies are much more often on the underside of the leaf, and do not make that sort of white, waxy goo.
Thanks for the information. Today, I sprayed water on one of the spots and a white fuzzy bug jumped off.... I also cut a branch from the camellia and put it in a zip lock bag. Nothing is moving inside the bag after several hours. I've noticed that most of the problem areas are 'newer' growth and mostly limited to the branches - not so much on the leaves or underside of leaves. Does this help with identification?
Most likely scale or Mealies.
Thanks. I guess I'll resort to an insecticidal soap. There are many, many problem areas - some are beyond my reach without a ladder. I am puzzled about this large outbreak. We have not seen this in prior years. Maybe it's the rain following a long period of dry conditions.
I would like to avoid this, if possible. I do not like chemicals in the yard.
It appears you have a pretty bad infestation of these bugs. I think I would take it to the county conservation dept and see what they say. You may need more than insecticidal soap. Sometimes you have to resort to stronger means.
I believe it is due to all the rain you have had. Aphids turn out in droves in wet weather on "new" growth.
The opposite, here. Very dry winter, almost no aphids (Except where the honeydew drips on the company truck, of course)
I will be trying this guy's organic spray. I am having a problem with mealy bugs, whiteflies and other bugs. He dose not give you the recipe until half way thru the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Q0uP4odh4
I live in south MS also and have had the same problem for the past two years. It is definitely not mealy bugs, white flies, aphids, or scale. I have seen some small snow white bugs fly out of it a few times, but very seldom. I've never been able to catch one. They sort of hop, then fly off.
They are mainly on my azalias. The white stuff just washes off easily with a water hose. I'm not sure whether they are sucking or chewing insects.
'Hope somebody can identify them for sure. (How in the heck do you spell "azalia"?)
azalea
good luck with your azaleas. We get thrips on our azaleas.
Hi Trixie - I have same problem with the stalks of my tiger lilies and some of the stalks of my hostas. I'm in northeast Alabama, and we have had monsoons -- extremely wet. We get a few showers a day with sunshine in between and sometimes a thunderstorm at night - like living in a rain forest.
I'll be watching this thread for any and all info/tips I can get. I do so love Tiger Lilies. One DG member suggested to me Sr. Bonner's castile soap. I have ordered some as there is not a Target in my small town. But any other suggestions would be great.
Suny
Sunny-have you put these pictures on Garden Pest and Disease Forum?
This looks awful. We have had lots of rain also. It rained most of the night and is still raining this am. If you find out what this is and what to do, please post on this thread.
We are finding out our pest is a white leaf hopper. They are on everthing... even the weeds. 'Still don't know how to get rid of them though.
Trixie
Thanks for the up date. Man that sounds terrible. Please let us know if you find something to get it under control. Good luck.
We used a systemic spray... Systemic Insect Control made by Bonide. I hate to use chemicals, but it worked and we only had to spray once. Thanks for all the input. Deborah
Thanks for the up date.
Think they are leaf hopper nymphs...
Whatever it was, it sure looked like a mess!
Some leaf hoppers can carry plant diseases from one plant to another. I would suggest getting just a bit aggressive in controlling these pests.
