Plant Pests

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Psyllid

The raised spots might be the work of psyllids, common name plant lice, small insects that depending on the species are host-specific, that is one species of a psyllid will colonize on one particular plant. They become abundant when temperatures warm and host plants develop fresh growth. The psyllid sucks the nutrients out of the foliage, stems, etc. and galls form on the leaves or buds. They also have ecreta, known as honeydew which can lead to the development of black sooty mold. Most experts agree that the psyllid damage is primarily aesthetic, but if the lemon plant is not growing, suggest you show some clippings to a horticulturist at your local garden center or botanic garden to confirm the problem and possible control.

By | 2016-03-12T05:37:07-08:00 March 12th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Whitefly

There appears to be whitefly. If you flick a leaf, do they fly away, then settle back down? If so, these are whitefly. Whitefly live on plants throughout their three life-stages. During the first stage, whitefly lay eggs which appear on the underside of leaves as white patches arranged in regular curves. Each female can produce 100-200 eggs at a time. After the eggs hatch, they become larvae that suck out the nutrients of the leaves and stems. Their excreta, known as honeydew, causes black sooty mold. Confirm with a local garden center and recommended control. If it is, there are organic controls such as those that are formulated with Spinosad, but spray in the late afternoon or early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray is dry it is safe for beneficials. There are also chemical formulations such as Bayer Advanced Fruit, Citrus and Vegetable Insect Control.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 11th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Schistocerca Gregaria

S. gregaria, commonly known as desert locust remains a solitary insect until the rainy season. When vegetation emerges, particularly in sandy soils, the female locust lays her eggs in the soil and amidst vegetation for the hatchlings to feed upon. If there are large numbers of the nymphs congregated, this close physical contact causes a metabolic and physical change from solitary to gregarious form and its color changes from green to yellow and black. The desert locust is found in the northwest region of India, but you might contact an agricultural department in Punjabi to confirm its identity. If so, the swarms of desert locust cause huge losses in agriculture. Early warning and preventive control is the strategy adopted by locust-affected countries in Africa and Asia to try to stop locust plagues from developing and spreading. Refer to FAO's Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) in Rome, Italy.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 10th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Aphids On Leafy Vegetables

It is really hard to tell from this photo but these look like they could be aphids. They will typically feed on the newest plant growth. You can identify Aphids (with a magnifying lens) by the two "cornicles" (structures that look like tiny tailpipes) extending from the rear. If you see the cornicles, you will want to control these insects with a pesticidal soap, available at your local garden center or wash off with a strong stream of water. These insects reproduce rapidly (giving live birth, rather than laying eggs), so you can also narrow the possible insect species down if you see that some of them are smaller versions of the larger ones. Sometimes an adult will develop wings and they look a bit different than the rest, but they'll still have the "tailpipes". They can be controlled by many synthetic insecticides but a strong stream will wash them off and they will not climb back.

By | 2016-03-10T13:08:48-08:00 March 10th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Golden Barrel Cactus

Echinocactus grusonii, or more popularly known as the "Golden Barrel", is a very beautiful and fast-growing member the "barrel cacti" family, which includes both Echinocactus and closely related Ferocacti. This plant can be a very dramatic facet of landscaping with its dense golden spines and rugged tolerance of full sun, heat, drought and even some frost. Can grow to 36" in diameter and height in 20 years. Will offset with age, producing beautiful clumps. Yellow flowers appear at the crown, usually in summer. Native habitat is Mexico, but is becoming extinct in habitat due to development of land. Prefers extra drainage in soil mix, as can be attained with the addition of extra perlite or pumice. Bright light to full sun. Can be grown in a container on a warm, bright patio or in full sun in a garden landscape. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Can tolerate temperatures below freezing for brief periods, but is best to protect from frost to prevent scarring.

By | 2016-03-10T07:56:50-08:00 March 10th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Mealy Bugs And Sooty Mold

It looks as though you have an infestation of Mealy Bugs (the white things). The blackened areas are called Black Sooty Mold (or just Sooty Mold). The Sooty Mold is a result of the mold that grows on the honeydew secretions produced by the Mealy Bugs that drops onto the leaves and stems. The Mealy Bugs hurt the plant by sucking out the juices and decreasing the over all vigor of the plant. The Sooty Mold usually does not harm the plant except in severe cases where it prevents the plant from photosynthesizing (we believe your case is severe).
Our suggestion at this point is to try to remove and dispose of all affected plant parts. It is hard to find all the tiny Mealy Bugs so you may want to use an insecticide at that point. We would suggest taking a bagged sample of your plant to your local garden center where they would be able to suggest proper control measures for your particular situation.

By | 2016-03-09T18:19:28-08:00 March 9th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Rose Issues

It looks as if there are a few things going on here. It is hard to see clearly but there is possibly rust on the leaves (the yellow spots). You could confirm this by turning the leaf over and if you see dusty orange spots, it's most likely rust. Rust is a fungal disease. Here is a link that might be helpful: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/DISEASES/rusts.html
The lower petals that are dark in color suggest either extreme heat or not enough water. You would be the one who would know that.
We are also wondering if you pruned your roses back in the winter as is customary. If not, you could have alot of old wood and foliage that are carrying diseases and/or pests over from last year. A proper pruning in the winter give roses a chance to rest and revive themselves for spring. If you choose to do this next year, be sure to properly dispose of all plant parts so as to not spread the diseases and pests that might be present.
Here is another link that you might find helpful:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7465.html

By | 2016-03-09T12:22:39-08:00 March 9th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Mealybugs

Your infestation is likely mealybugs, especially if they have a cottony, fuzzy appearance and feel sticky. Mealybugs suck the nutrients out of the plant and will eventually kill it if left untreated. The black residue that you see is the result of the honey dew that the insect secretes. A mold then grows on top of the honeydew and that is called Black Sooty Mold. The sooty mold won't harm the plant unless it is excessive and prohibits the plant from photosynthesizing. You could try to wipe the insects and the leaves off with a damp cloth dipped in alcohol and follow with a spray of insecticidal soap or pyrethrin by following the directions on the label. You can also spray with an organic control containing Spinosad that has a 7-10 day residual. Spinosad should be sprayed in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried, it is safe for beneficials.

By | 2016-03-09T07:16:04-08:00 March 9th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Aphids And More

The insect infestation are likely aphids as well as "honeydew" which is the sticky substance that is the result of the excretions from the insects. In time this sticky substance may lead to the development of black sooty mold, a mold that forms as a result of the excretions from aphids, scale, scale and other sucking insects. Aphids come in many different colors. They are a sucking insect, born with 150 live babies inside of them. They are relatively easy to control, first with a firm spray of water. Once they are off they can not get back onto the host plant. However, they DO have a ferocious reproductive cycle and can multiply very quickly if not kept in check. The use of insecticidal soap spray is one method to get rid of aphids. And keep in mind, iif you use a strong chemical pesticide, it has the potential to not only to kill the aphids, but any beneficial insects close by such as lady bugs. Just plain water is pretty effective, if you do it every day.

By | 2016-03-09T06:06:33-08:00 March 9th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Eye Gnats

Its very hard to say for sure what this insect is, but maybe you can confirm or deny our best guess, based on what we can see of the insect. Could this be an Eye Gnat? The only clue is the white markings on the wings... at least that's what we think we're seeing in this photo. They are very small fly-like insects (you know - gnats) that have been an issue in organic gardens because they breed and develop in moist, well-drained sandy soils with abundant organic matter. They are pests of people and animals, not plants. They are good flyers but they also get blown long distances by the wind. They love the So Cal climate and can sometimes breed year round. We've included a link from the Univ of CA about them and some control measures. Sounds like its a challenge to control them so if you continue to have trouble you may want to get someone from the UC extension farm advisors office to come out and talk with you.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74164.html

By | 2016-03-09T01:27:12-08:00 March 9th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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