I am finding small orangish bugs on the newly developing leaves of my brug. What could these be and what can I do? It is in a container, but outside and just starting to grow in the warmer spring weather here.
little orange bugs on my brug
If they are really small and gather in clumps on the end of the leaf, then it's most likely spider mites. ughh!!!
If it's just a small infestation, you can use a fast water spray. You can also use Neem Oil. If the day time temperatures are above 85ºF, spray early in the morning or late in the evening or else you will get leaf burn. Then you may wish to use a systemic to guard against future pest problems.
Do you have aphids in AZ? I have orangish colored aphids here in the spring. Mites would be about the size of the period at the end of a sentence and aphids would be a few times bigger and very soft bodied. Either of them are nasty bugs.
I use the Bayer systemic fert/pesticide on my potted brugs in Phoenix. I buy the liquid, mix it in a 5 gallon bucket, using 4 oz of solution for 5 gallons of water. The product says not to use it on potted plants, but I do, and I use a weaker solution instead of what is normally called for (normal is 1oz for each gallon). I have not had any bugs on my brugs since I started doing this, and I've got many of them ready for a full flush of blooms. And I've not had any adverse reaction from using the Bayer product on potted plants.