Insect and Fuzzy White Stuff

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HelloMissMary Memphis, TN Jul 05, 2014

Please tell me what this bug is -- and is it what's making all the fuzzy stuff on my plant stems?

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kwanjin (Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2014

It's an leaf hopper but I don't know what the fungus like stuff is.

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 06, 2014

Not a leafhopper; it's a planthopper in the family Flatidae; looks like Metcalfa pruinosa. The fuzzy stuff was secreted by its nymph stage -
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/shrubs/citrus_flatid_planthopper.htm

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HelloMissMary Memphis, TN Jul 06, 2014

Thank you! Most of the flowers in my yard are covered with this stuff. Looks like the insect itself doesn't do any real damage but it sure leaves the plants looking pretty bad.

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RVAGarden Richmond, VA Jun 25, 2015

I have similar if not the same insects in my garden. At first I thought it was a Mealybug infestation, but when I noticed them hopping a significant distance, I knew it was something else. These insects are on most of my plants, mints, asparagus ferns, wax beans, asparagus beans, cucumbers, various pepper plants. Several of my wax bean plants have become completely stunted, and some have even dropped all of their leaves. The ones with lots of fluffy white residue are the most devastated. I believe these bugs are sucking the life out of my plants. If so, what can I do? I've investigated my yard and they are covering all of the new growth branches of my many many holly bushes that are a privacy hedge line. It seems impossible to get rid of them all...

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jun 25, 2015

First try an application of an insecticidal soap. If that fails to do the trick, I suggest contacting your local office of Virginia's Cooperative Extension Service for advice - see http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/ for links to contact information.

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LouInTX Winnsboro, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 06, 2015

My first encounter with these "fuzz" makers was several years back (Spring TX 77388) on an azalea bush. Too late when I discovered them - they do suck the life out of plants - azalea bush was history. I now live in Winnsboro TX 75494 and still have them. Mostly I hit them with a hard force of water (dependent on the type of plant of course) and check every day for a few days. If present again, I hit them again with a force of water. So far, this has been a remedy for the tougher type plants (woody stemmed). I also have tried successfully with just squishing them on the more tender type plants. Insecticidal soap is an excellent idea and so is a natural oil. I have been reading a lot on diluted Murphy's Oil Soap which is good for insects, some diseases and to deter deer and rabbits (I would think on non-edibles only). I have not had to use it yet but plan on trying.

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