Help identify this pest please

[MSU JBoots]

I was thinking aphids at first or mealy bugs. I treated it this spring when I noticed them with insecticidal soap twice and lightly brushed it with a toothbrush. I ignored it for awhile and they are back with a vengeance. Any insight is appreciated!


Sorry for the crappy pics but all I have is a camera on my phone.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Looks like Wolly Aphids to me. Sounds like you did the proper treatment and maybe just missed the eggs they leave behind. I'd do the same insecticidal soap and brush routine, you can blast them off with a hose too, but follow up with insecticidal soap sprays every five days for the next few weeks to get any eggs. Spray everything the pot the soil, under the leaves. They adults can fly so I'd isolate this plant from others, good luck.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Looks like Wolly Aphids to me. Sounds like you did the proper treatment and maybe just missed the eggs they leave behind. I'd do the same insecticidal soap and brush routine, you can blast them off with a hose too, but follow up with insecticidal soap sprays every five days for the next few weeks to get any eggs. Spray everything the pot the soil, under the leaves. They adults can fly so I'd isolate this plant from others, good luck.

Thanks. After I read up again I think thought the problem was I didn’t treat frequently or long enough.

 

[Shibui]

Not quite like woolly aphid here but I also suspect the treatment was not thorough enough. If it is woolly aphid they also live on the roots so just killing the ones above ground does not solve the problem. A systemic is required to get all of them to stop reinfestation.
With any contact insecticide like horticultural soap you need to follow up as eggs hatch and to get any that were missed in the first application. 2 or 3 applications over a month or 6 weeks is necessary to get good control. Systemic gets to every pest that bites any part of the plant and most stay active for a few weeks or months to catch late hatchings.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I’m still struggling to get control on this issue. I did insecticidal soap every 4 days for 3 treatments and thought I had it under control but they came back. I finally bought some bonide systemic and after 2 weeks they are gaining ground just as before. They tend to populate the trunk and underside of the branches most heavily populated at the crotches. Any more advice? It’s about time to bring this inside for the winter and I don’t want it anywhere near my healthy ficus under the one grow light I have.

 

[JackHammer]

Look up the pest recipe on this site. Alcohol, dishwasher soap, and 70+% water. It should be easy to find.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Wow! that's crazy. Is the plant a lavender star flower (Grewia occidentalis)? I need more pics, close ups of the infected areas. It could be a Fungus. Are they on the leaves or just the trunk & branches? I had the same thing going on with my Lavender star flower last year. What damage to the tree do you see? Is there a sticky substance anywhere? I ended up dipping q-tips in rubbing alchol and touched every white spot I saw. I also repotted this summer, & haven't had a problem since. Now I want to go look at mine. Good luck.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Wow! that's crazy. Is the plant a lavender star flower (Grewia occidentalis)? I need more pics, close ups of the infected areas. It could be a Fungus. Are they on the leaves or just the trunk & branches? I had the same thing going on with my Lavender star flower last year. What damage to the tree do you see? Is there a sticky substance anywhere? I ended up dipping q-tips in rubbing alchol and touched every white spot I saw. I also repotted this summer, & haven't had a problem since. Now I want to go look at mine. Good luck.

I’ll try to take some more close ups later but it’s hard with only and iPhone. There was a time I found some sticky stuff on the leaves but that was in the early spring when I first noticed it. It’s is a lavender star. I was wondering if it could be a fungus. The health took a major hit after I repotted it and put it in the shade and forgot about it and didn’t water it for a few days too long. It dropped most its leaves then recovered. Then I’m early fall it dropped a bunch more and sprouted some tiny tiny leaves. It’s probably on its last legs if I can’t kick whatever this white stuff is.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I am surprised the Bonide systemic did not work. It should have.

Go to www.Hummert.com they stock all manner of pesticides, read through the options.

I use a cocktail, I make a tank mix, of Decathalon WP (this is a synthetic, chlorinated Pyrethroid type pesticide, with Enstar 2, a juvenile growth hormone inhibitor. And if needed for the orchids, Pentac for mite control. I then spray this cocktail on all houseplants orchids and bonsai, I bring everything outside to spray, then bring into the house for winter. 2 sessions, 10 days apart and the collection stays clean all winter.

There are many other pesticide combinations that will work.

One cheap cheat that I have used

Flea and Tick bomb for the house. If it says controls fleas and ticks for 6 or 7 months it has juvenile growth hormone inhibitors and will kill most plant insect pests. Put your trees and all houseplants or other plants that need treating in a room, or garage. Set off the required number of flea and tick bombs needed for the volume of the space you are in. I've used Raid brand, and the generic brands. Doesn't matter. They seem safe for plants if they don't spatter directly on the leaves.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Note:
If one plant in your collection has bugs, chances are many have bugs too, just at a lower level. Treat all your plants, not just the obviously affected one.

 

[MSU JBoots]

@Michigan Tree Murderer here are some close up pics from this afternoon. I think the systemic might actually be working and what I’m seeing are the ones that are hatching then dying when they start feeding.

This last pic shows the dramatic difference in leaf size each time it’s dropped leaves and leafed back out. It’s looking pretty sad I think I’m part due to the pests and in part due to a night or two I left it out in some colder temps.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Note:
If one plant in your collection has bugs, chances are many have bugs too, just at a lower level. Treat all your plants, not just the obviously affected one.

You might be right. However, I noted this pest on this tree right after I brought it home from the nursery. Had I noticed at the store I would not have bought it. It was mostly separate from by benches all season except when I thought I had defeated them with the insecticidal soap and put it on the bench with the others for a brief period of time.

 

[penumbra]

Botanicare was recently recommended for me by a friend who has a nursery and thriving business.
I have about 300 plants inside, which is a big cut from last year. I have been using Safari, a systemic for three years. I also used the Bonide Granules for about 5 years. Eventually they loose effectiveness. I am so tired of using all of these poisons. I use alcohol and DR Bronners soaps to good effect but they need to be used very frequently. This Botanicare is about the least toxic thing around for a quick knockdown. It is contact.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Botanicare was recently recommended for me by a friend who has a nursery and thriving business.
I have about 300 plants inside, which is a big cut from last year. I have been using Safari, a systemic for three years. I also used the Bonide Granules for about 5 years. Eventually they loose effectiveness. I am so tired of using all of these poisons. I use alcohol and DR Bronners soaps to good effect but they need to be used very frequently. This Botanicare is about the least toxic thing around for a quick knockdown. It is contact.

Yeah I’ve tried ever since I started to hobby to avoid any chemicals as I have small children and animals. Until now I have been successful with the exception of some needle cast last year which I started treating my pines with copper fungicide. That my have to just be part of my pre-winter and spring care.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

View attachment 571235@Michigan Tree Murderer here are some close up pics from this afternoon. I think the systemic might actually be working and what I’m seeing are the ones that are hatching then dying when they start feeding.
View attachment 571236
This last pic shows the dramatic difference in leaf size each time it’s dropped leaves and leafed back out. It’s looking pretty sad I think I’m part due to the pests and in part due to a night or two I left it out in some colder temps.
View attachment 571237

It looks like the systemic is working. I'm not seeing a lot of bug damage, or as many white "spots". It looks way better than the original pics. It looks a little rough, but also like it's fighting. I've found these plants are pretty tough, mine also sulked for a few weeks after repot and bounced back. I'd keep doing what you're doing & maybe use a q-tip with rubbing alcohol and dab each white spot you see with it.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Despite a second dose of systemic and continued insecticidal soap the issue remains. It’s much improved but not eradicated. In a last ditch effort to save the tree and protect my other tropical I sprayed it with a solution of diluted peroxide and watered the soil with it as well. If this doesn’t work I’m ready to call the tree a loss to protect the rest of my collection.