The worms (Pseudococcidae) are close relatives of the scabbard - these are the equinoquin insects from the coccid suborder, which connect a group of insects of the lamellar family: black-cheeked, giant felts and mealybugs. Powdery intestines called everyday hairy lice are sucking insects that can be seen with the naked eye. Because of the woolly waxy secretions, these insects also received such a name. Females and their larvae suck young foliage, shoots and buds, which greatly slows the growth of the plant.
Description.
Powdery mulberry, folk remedies against which are described below, the movable insect is covered with a white powdery waxy coating, wax plates on the edge are often found. Depending on the type of insect, there are representatives from 0.5 mm to 12 mm in size. The difference between the sexes is vividly expressed. In males, the limbs are normal, there are a pair of wings, on the abdomen there is a bundle or a pair of tail filaments. In adult males there is no mouth, they do not feed.
In some species, females lack or reduce limbs. Many types of females lay eggs in a white cotton-like sack, but there are viviparous. Very high fertility, some species can give from two to four generations a year. Larvae of the first age, the so-called vagabonds, are energetic, move well along the plant, can be carried by the air stream. Attached to the plant larvae, lose mobility. After moulting, the following larvae are looking for new plants to feed. Female can move well on the plant, and before laying eggs are sheltered.
Females can lay up to six hundred eggs. The larvae are located throughout the fodder plant. Preferred places for their dwelling are young leaves and shoots, buds, flowers. Often, cortices are taken into the cracks, in the sinuses of the foliage, behind the upper buds, located near the root neck and on the roots, near the walls of the pot.
Infected plants grow slowly and are wrapped in a web of white.
There are more than 1,600 widely distributed species of insects, more common in tropical forests. There are about 250 species on the territory of Eurasia. The worms damage fruit, ornamental, technical and greenhouse plants. The bamboo, greenhouse plate, citrus, grape cherry, Australian grooved, which damages citrus cultures (quarantine object), as well as the olive line and the combed worm that damages mulberry, are more famous than others. There are some types of chervens that release substances useful to humans (lacquer and cochineal). These substances are used in the paint and varnish industry.
Powdery cauliflowers can hit azaleas, cacti, amaryllis, palm trees, fuchsia, asparagus, lemons, etc.
Distinctive features of plants infected with a worm.
The mealybugs can be easily seen. When affected, a waxy waxy coating of white appears on the plants. Another sign of infection is the sugary deposits, the so-called honey dew, and the black mushroom that settles on these secretions. The growth of the plant slows down considerably, because worms suck the juice of young shoots, foliage and buds. The root system is affected by a very common citrus mealybug.
Preventive actions.
Such plants as croton, cacti, ficus, succulents are especially exposed to the worm, so in the off-season, a preventive inspection of these plants is necessary. This insect does not like moisture and prefers a dry habitat.
Leaves of plants must be washed and kept clean, and also remove old dried leaves.
Means of combating mealybugs.
Even with a small infection, it is necessary to clean insects and cut off diseased parts of plants. It is necessary to use systemic insecticidal preparations such as: Tsvetofos, Intavir, Fosbetsis, Carbofos, Actellik. Getting into the soil, this drug is absorbed by the plant and spreads through the tissues. Insects that suck the juice or gnaw the plant get a poisonous substance and die. To microbiological preparations the lepidocid which is used as a biological way of conducting struggle concerns.
Folk remedies for mealybug.
Gently clean the surface of the plant with a soft damp brush, then rinse thoroughly with water, especially the lower part of the leaves. Once a week, it is allowed to wash the leaves and stems of the plant with soapy water, tangerine or orange peel infusions (1-2 days), garlic juice or onions dissolved in soapy water.
Soap and alcohol solution: 1 teaspoon of soap to grind, dissolve in a liter of hot water, add to the solution 1 tablespoon of alcohol or 2 tablespoons of vodka. Close the ground with a film and sprinkle with this solution plant. The next day the plant should be washed under a warm water jet. This spraying should be repeated every 3-4 days. And it is better to collect pests with a cotton swab dipped in a solution. The tampon must be changed to prevent the spread of insects.
Garlic solution: chop 25-70 grams of garlic, pour one liter of boiling water, then insist for 6 hours. Spray the plant with a strained solution.
Tincture of calendula: moisten with a tincture brush and well miss the place where the pest inhabits. This procedure should be done in the evening and for 2 days to darken the plant from the sun.
You can always spray the plant with a stream of water. To poison the agent better adheres to the pest of pests, it is necessary to add a small amount of soapy household liquid to the solution. It is very carefully to handle the damaged places.