Mealy bug eggs

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Ava
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Mealy bug eggs

Post by Ava »

So, after thinking I'd rid my (now, very small indeed...) collection of mealybugs, I have found them on my Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. After much cutting away, I found tons of eggs (well, white stuff, anyway) hiding amongst large clumps of aerial roots. Lovely. I've coated it in insecticide and was wondering, if it does work, how will I know? Will the eggs/white stuff eventually just sort of rot away?
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DaveW
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Re: Mealy bug eggs

Post by DaveW »

Many insecticides don't kill the eggs, so you need to use the insecticide a few times at certain intervals to kill new bugs that hatch from the already laid eggs. These instructions are often on the container if you read them, but a one off application can often be ineffective since a new generation emerges from the eggs later. You have to try and kill the new bugs before they can lay eggs again. The problem too is that most modern insecticides are not as persistent as the old ones were, so the new hatchlings are not poisoned when they suck sap again as in the past, so you need a new dose of insecticide to get rid of them.

It is often better if you can wash the infestation off with a jet of water before applying the insecticide. With cacti I use a pump-up sprayer with the mist nozzle turned to a needle jet and wash most off out on the yard before applying insecticide.
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3bears
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Re: Mealy bug eggs

Post by 3bears »

sounds like you will never get rid of them. if it was my plant, i would take some clean cuttings and throw the infested part away. much better than going though multiple pesticide apps and failures.
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