mealybugs - sucking insects belonging to the family Hemiptera.In people, it is called "shaggy louse."It is visible, if you look closely.It named so because the result of his life are white mealy vatopodobnye selection.Infected plants looks as though it sprinkled with small cotton balls.
females and larvae suck the juices out of the shoots, leaves, buds, which greatly slow down the development of the plant.Covered with powdery white bloom, it is mobile enough at any age.Small size (about 0.6 cm) mealybug.Photo shows the look of the pest.These insects sexual dimorphism is strongly expressed.Males with wings, legs and mouth in some species are absent (they do not feed as adults).Females do not fly, sucking mouthparts.
Females are able to defer up to 2000 eggs a fluffy highlight left or in the axils of leaves on the reverse side.They can produce honeydew, which can then settle sooty fungus.Egg protected puhoobraznymi discharge, the water is not terrible.The larvae, leaving them spread throughout the plant, including the roots.Females of some species of mealybug viviparous.
total more than 2,200 known species of these insects on the European part - about 300. In our country the greatest harm to the inhabitants of the green cause the following:
Bristly mealybug - an insect, the female is oval in shape with a body length of about 3,5 mm.They are pink or orange, covered with white bloom.Harm to plants viviparous females and larvae.They have well-developed limbs, and they are able to move to neighboring plants.Selyatsya colonies usually at the tips of shoots in the axils of leaves, and especially on their back side.Chosen by their plants are stunted.Leaves turn yellow on it first, and then fall off.Insects can climb under the bark of citrus and a bulb scales.
Grape mealybug differs from previous more rounded body, it is yellowish or pinkish color, covered with the pulverulent coating.Of course also developed.It is also able to move to another plant.
Seaside mealybug most common.The males are very small, flying all season.Females with elongated body about 4 mm gray-pink color, covered with powdery bloom.The larvae of small, yellow, with no plaque moving.They turn into adults in about 1.5 months.Suck juices from the plant, leading to death.
most common mealybug strikes azaleas, wildflowers, cacti, lilies, roses, amaryllis, fuchsias, camellias, vines, citrus, palms, monstera, hibiscus and others.
The best way to avoid the danger of indoor plants this pest - the content clean, t.e.plants must be periodically washed, remove the dried leaves and inspect, in time to take action if they are needed.Mealybug prefers dry and does not like moisture.Therefore, the "green pets" reasonably necessary to water, considering their demands.
If mealybug was found, the fight against it must begin immediately.To begin with infected plants should be isolated from others.For a small number of pests can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in soapy water.And then spray the plant tobacco or garlic extract with a double repetition of a week.
In severe cases need to use insecticide, such as "Aktelik", "Fitoverm" (preferred because it does not smell), "Vertimek" and others. Such funds are absorbed by the plant, pest, feeding on the juices of his die.One treatment will not be enough.It is advisable to spray three times at intervals of 7 days.
With any pest easier to fight at an early stage, so make sure you inspect your houseplants, using a magnifying glass.
