In your opinion, which are the 3 worst pests in succulents?

[Liz M]

Does no one have trouble with Vine Weevil? Or does everyone use Provado?

[Ali Baba]

I would add earwigs too, which annoyingly take the flowers off my mesembs if i dont keep a sharp eye out for them in autumn.
The poll doesnt list false spider mite, which I would say is a much nastier pest than RSM, and is probably under diagnosed as a pest in cacti.
Western flower thrips are driving me mad, any helpful suggestions? There is a bacterial control but it isnt available for amateur growers yet.

[Peter]

Deleted

[ralphrmartin]

Slugs. Even worse than snails.

[iann]

I've never had a vine weevil in my greenhouse so far as I know. Perhaps a systemic soil drench most years is sufficient, or perhaps they don't like the arid conditions of cacti and highly xeric succulents.

By far my worst pest is false spider mites. I rarely see a true spider mite, red or otherwise, on a cactus although there are a handful of mesembs that they adore (honey trap?). The biggest problem is a lack of means to control them, with no systemic and hence no preventative. I swear I'm going to end up like Patrick Moore I spend so long peering through a lens looking for them before they cause too much damage.

Thrips damage I see occasionally on the new leaves of Lithops and once I actually spotted a larva in old flower remains. Mealies are so easy to control (until resistance arrives, scary thought!) that it is getting hard to feel sympathy for anyone with a perennial problem.

[Stuart R]

Since moving to Brittany, I've had no problems at all with mealy bugs or red spider mite. My biggest pest appears to be mice, the little varmints get into the green house & take a nibble here & there. The only other problem I've had is with Sciara fly. I've not been able to find a soil based compost here yet, so my seedlings took a hammering last year This year they're going into JI.

[Patricia-CR]

Very, very interesting. Never had vine weevil. Does the false spider mite cause the same effects on the cactus as the red spider mite?

[iann]

Does the false spider mite cause the same effects on the cactus as the red spider mite?

Similar. Damage per mite is much worse, but they don't breed as fast. They also don't create webbing, are considerably smaller, and like humidity.

[Patricia-CR]

Thanks Ian!

[JST]

If there was the choice, I would have voted:
1. Mealy bug
2. Mealy bug
3. Mealy bug

They virtually destroyed my collection to the point that I nearly gave up. After a four year battle, I did have one year where I didn't see any and built up my collection again. Now the wretched things are back!
I have found it impossible to get hold of Murphy's Tumblebug, which used to be the standard 'cure' about 20 years ago. Can anyone suggest the most effective substitute?