Plant Pests

/Plant Pests

Soft Scales

The soft scales that do show up on cypress, on occasion, typically move up and down the twigs and branches and feed on the vital fluids that they find. Most times natural predators and even environmental conditions will keep them in check so the plant stays healthy. The pest experts feel that keeping the tree thriving and healthy will keep them from doing much damage. But if they begin to injure the tree there are insecticides that will kill the more immature scales but the problem then becomes the adults who linger and are harder to kill. Most experts recommend chemical controls that can be applied in the spring. For those guidelines we would recommend you contact your local cooperative extension agent who can help you with the right product and the right timing.

By | 2016-03-19T14:59:38-07:00 March 19th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Chewing Insect

The problem with chewing insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars (too numerous to name) etc. is they move about and often are difficult to spot among the green foliage. Chewing insects can be large enough to see with the naked eye, but they can be green, brown, black, etc. so look closely and pluck off any you see on this plant or its neighbors as long as the infestation is not too extensive. If it is extensive, you can spray with an organic control for chewing insects recommended by your local garden center, such as Bt or Spinosad. Bt is a contact only control and Spinosad has a 7-10 day residual but spray Spinosad in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once dry it is safe for beneficials. However, the most benign control is pick and squish.

By | 2016-03-19T11:17:57-07:00 March 19th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Whitefly

If you flick a leaf, so 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. (The stickiness you feel is called honeydew, a fancy word for the excretions of the insects.) And as adults they become flying insects that lay more eggs and the cycle repeats itself. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap that are direct-contact controls. Another organic remedy is Spinosad that has a 7-10 day residual.

By | 2016-03-19T10:26:45-07:00 March 19th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Black Sooty Mold

Black sooty mold results from the excretions of sap-sucking insects such as aphids, The excretions (called honeydew) lead to black sooty mold. Aphids can be washed off with a strong stream of water but If the problem is extensive, then it might be best to use an organic control such as Spinosad with a 7-10 day residual. If spraying with Spinosad wait until the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried it is safe for beneficials. You can also use systemic insecticide formulated for your specific plant. Also if you see ants around your plant, get rid of them with an ant bait that they take back to the nest so that the entire colony can be killed. Ants "farm" aphids, scale and mealybugs for their honeydew.

By | 2016-03-19T06:51:16-07:00 March 19th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Citrus Leaf Miner

This looks like citrus leaf miner, a very common insect pest of citrus. A moth lays eggs under the leaf surface and the larvae tunnel through the leaf. It makes the trees look terrible but only threatens young trees. The insects can be difficult to control. You'll want to follow good cultural care practices on the trees to keep them optimally healthy and continue to grow and produce fruit. (Specifically, do not prune and/or fertilize at inappropriate times of year as these
insects feed on the newest growth). These two web links have the best info:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74137.html

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/citrus.html
Those websites will give you control options, organic and synthetic. Timing is very important with organics, as are repeat sprays.

By | 2016-03-19T05:46:12-07:00 March 19th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Whitefly

We suspect the small specks are whiteflies (Do you notice them flying when you touch the leaves?) Could be Aleurotrachelus trachoides (whitefly). can't be 100% sure on the species without ID in person. If you want to know for sure they can either take it to UH extension office or the Hawaii Department of Agriculture Hilo office for ID. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap to try organic products that are direct contact controls. Another organic remedy is Spinosad that has a 7-10 day residual. Spray in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried on the foliage, it is safe for beneficials. Here's more information: https://insects.tamu.edu/extension/publications/html/b6127.html.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:18-07:00 March 19th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Caterpillar Damage

The holes may be the result of caterpillars. Some caterpillars are little trouble and we tolerate others because they are the larvae of butterflies and moths. When they are eating desirable plants as this one is, suggest you physically remove all you can see or spray with an organic control such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis is a contact spray only), or another organic control formulated with Spinosad (has a 7-10 day residual) available at your local garden center. If spraying with Spinosad, do so in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried it is safe for beneficials. Before you do this, however, cut open the damaged tomato to see if there is a larva/caterpillar inside. If not, then the damage may be due to birds or rats.

By | 2016-03-18T06:25:57-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Mealy Bugs

These are mealy bugs. They suck the nutrients out of the plant. You can spray the affected areas with commercial houseplant insecticide, or take a small spray bottle and fill it with half distilled water and half rubbing alcohol. Let it sit for a few minutes or so and then spray clean with just water. If the infestation is not too severe, use a q-tip dipped in denatured alcohol (available at your drug store) and rinse off with water after treatment (prolonged exposure to alcohol can damage the leaves). You will likely have to repeat this several times over a couple of weeks. Mealy bugs are common and cause little harm in small numbers, but increase rapidly in the right conditions. It is easier to take care of them when the numbers are small.

By | 2016-03-18T00:10:15-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Black Sooty Mold

The black sooty mold is probably the result of sucking insect damage such as aphids, mealybugs or scale. Confirm the problem at your local garden center. If it is, for sucking insects spray with a suffocant such as a horticultural oil but spray in the early evening to avoid burning the foliage during the heat of the day. There are also chemical systemics but make sure it is recommended for your particular plant and you would need to get rid of the current problem first and the systemic would be for future control. Also look for ants as they farm the sucking insects for their honeydew, excreta from the insects that leads to the black sooty mold. Use a bait that ants take back to their nests to kill the entire colony and the queen.

By | 2016-03-17T20:40:37-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
Read More

Harlequin Bugs

These look like harlequin bug nymphs (immature bugs). Their scientific name is Murgantia histrionica. They are "true bugs" in the group called Stink Bugs. They can attack a variety of food plants/crops (all plant parts except roots) and ornamentals and can be very damaging in large numbers. Their true preference is plants in the brassica / mustard family. They are sap sucking insects (not chewing) so they make white spots on the leaves rather than holes or other chewed parts. Hand removal is effective; you can also use insecticides, but be sure to use something safe for edibles. Here's a web link with more info:
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/hemipt/Murgantia.htm
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/PESTS/harlequinbug.html

By | 2016-03-17T04:26:42-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Pests|1 Comment
Read More