I have no idea what this is. It was just on this one stem, nowhere else on the plant nor on any of the other plants close by. These plants are outside on my deck. I've noticed it before, a week or so ago, and was able to just wipe it off. I inspect the plants carefully at least once a day so I've been able to spot it quickly before it spreads much. But since this is the second time, I guess I need to find out what it is and what can be done about it. Thanks!
Looks like aphids to me.
Here's a thread PanamonCreel started on Pests common to Hoyas:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/471984/
I think it's about the second or third post where he shows a close up of one type of aphid. He also lists the recommended cures.
This message was edited Aug 27, 2005 12:24 PM
Yep...yellow aphids. Maybe 2 or 3 times a year I find one or two plants with them in the GH...always on new growth so they stick out!!! I just wipe them off with my hands and they don't seem to come back. When I see them...I wage an all out attack on the ants...they are the culprits!!! Alcohol spray (full strength) works really well too!!! HTH
Thanks for the link...I learned something new. I'll keep watching carefully and just wipe them off as I see them.
Yep, m r aphids.....I have more trouble with them than mealies....DH does the same thing Carol does. I orthinex the heck out of them. Really bad this time of year for me.
Obviously this was my first ever encounter with them. So far no mealies on any of the hoyas either. I have had mealies on other houseplants years ago though. I guess I've just been pretty lucky so far with the hoyas. Thanks to everyone for the helpful feedback. In a couple of weeks, I plan to use the Bayer Tree and Shrub stuff on all my outside plants that I plan to bring into the house. That should take care of them I guess.
For me, ants are a real problem!!! They even travel in pots I ship...(don't tell Ag.) They carry all kinds of stuff like aphids and mealies...so if they can be controlled (read: killed), I have less of a chance of aphids, scale and mealies.
I used the Bayer stuff and became very complacent!...aHA...I have the problem licked! Then I found that the Spider Mites started taking over my Brugmansias...somehow I was killing some natural predator of t he mites. We can't win, can we? When I can keep my plants WET, DAMP, SPRAYED, SHOWERED ... it seems to discourage the buggers!!!
I still use Bayer...but I know what to look for now!!! (grrrrr and I am loaded for bear).
I saw the same thing on my H. obavata. It was only a few of them, so I just squrted them with my water bottle, and when they didn't come off, I wiped them off with my fingers. It was creepy to think that I was touching little bugs, but so far, they hven't returned.
I have some success controlling ants by finding where they are going into a nest...usually underground...and sprinkling powered SEVIN in their path....they track the stuff into the next and kill everyone. They move...but with all that furniture it takes them awhile to restablish themselves!!
I have found that scale attracts the black ants around here..I just learned why they wouldnt leave the pot alone and looked real close and found huge scale clinging to the base of the plant...I ended up throwing the plant out since the ants had been in the pot so long that they made tunnels..this plant as you may wonder wasnt a favorite that I looked at it very often so I didnt cry too much when I dumped it..well I did have a tear or 2 slide down my face since I dont like throwing anything out...Judy
