I *THOUGHT* I had them under control...

[ShadyStump]

NO, No I didn't!
I did NOT have the wooly aphids under control.

Tip: rotate your tropicals while they're inside for winter. You'll catch this stuff sooner.

Very unhappy with the neem oil I've been using.
Heard somewhere here that you really need the cold pressed stuff. It ain't cheap now days, but I got some. Using alcohol first though.

 

[Gabler]

View attachment 532828
NO, No I didn't!
I did NOT have the wooly aphids under control.

Tip: rotate your tropicals while they're inside for winter. You'll catch this stuff sooner.

Very unhappy with the neem oil I've been using.
Heard somewhere here that you really need the cold pressed stuff. It ain't cheap now days, but I got some. Using alcohol first though.

I never had any luck even with the high-quality, cold-pressed stuff. I picked up some granules of systemic insecticide, and that did the trick.

 

[ShadyStump]

Yeah, I might just get some sevin this fall.
I usually use a homemade tobacco spray in winter - it's less likely to harm kids and pets but is still effective - but we were able to catch a bunch of beneficial bugs this go. Jumping spiders and ladybugs and such. I didn't want to kill them, so I've been leaning on the neem oil. Not impressed.

I hosed off the bugs I could (didn't realize how many mealybugs were in the mix ) then hosed it with an isopropyl solution, then hosed off the alcohol (killed a couple plants with it last winter) THEN hosed it down with the new neem oil.
Better do something.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I never had any luck even with the high-quality, cold-pressed stuff. I picked up some granules of systemic insecticide, and that did the trick.

NO MORE APHIDS !!!..... or SCALE !!!

It's the time of year again for the pesties. I've been regularly recommending this product in various threads here when I see them. I'm putting this one here in General Discussion and then I can just link it when someone is having a bug problem. I started using this 3 years ago. Since that...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[ShadyStump]

NO MORE APHIDS !!!..... or SCALE !!!

It's the time of year again for the pesties. I've been regularly recommending this product in various threads here when I see them. I'm putting this one here in General Discussion and then I can just link it when someone is having a bug problem. I started using this 3 years ago. Since that...

www.bonsainut.com

I don't recognize the packaging, so I'm not sure if it's available around here. I'll have to look around. Shouldn't be too bad for indoor seasonal use, as long as the kids and dog stay out of it.

 

[Eckhoffw]

You’ve tried dish soap and water?

 

[Paradox]

Yeah, I might just get some sevin this fall.
I usually use a homemade tobacco spray in winter - it's less likely to harm kids and pets but is still effective - but we were able to catch a bunch of beneficial bugs this go. Jumping spiders and ladybugs and such. I didn't want to kill them, so I've been leaning on the neem oil. Not impressed.

I hosed off the bugs I could (didn't realize how many mealybugs were in the mix ) then hosed it with an isopropyl solution, then hosed off the alcohol (killed a couple plants with it last winter) THEN hosed it down with the new neem oil.
Better do something.

Dont use Sevin in the house!

 

[ShadyStump]

You’ve tried dish soap and water?

Not as such. I've used dish soap in my tobacco stuff and the like as a surfactant and emulsifier.
Like I mentioned earlier, I haven't had this level of problems with bugs over winter before, but I chose a different strategy this time that didn't work like I hoped.

 

[nuttiest]

but I chose a different strategy this time that didn't work like I hoped.

like what, menthol cigarette butts?
I was wondering how much they tolerate, like say 20 butts, how much water do you use for a soil drench?

 

[Shibui]

The problem with woolly aphid is they also live on the roots under the soil. The treatments mentioned are all contact insecticides. They may kill off all the visible above ground bugs but meanwhile the ones under the soil continue breeding and feeding. Sooner or later some will move back up into the light.
Systemic insecticide is the only thing I've found that will deal with both above and below ground and give you a definite break from reinfestation.

 

[nuttiest]

Does it seem the wooly aphid attacks just one plant? (vs other insects getting all over) Is it an indicator of something?

 

[ShadyStump]

like what, menthol cigarette butts?
I was wondering how much they tolerate, like say 20 butts, how much water do you use for a soil drench?

I mix a dark tea from whatever is cheapest at the tobacco shop, the largo pipe tobacco around here. Usually about a half cup to a quart of hot water. Butts could work if you gather enough of them. Strain out the tobacco, pour into a spray bottle, add a tad bit of alcohol to insure any disease from the tobacco is killed, and a couple drops of dish soap as a surfactant and emulsifier.

It will come out brown, and will discolor flowers and pretty much anything else, but has been rather effective me and cleans up easily. I usually have to mix up at least two batches a season sometimes more if I drench the soil here and there.
I like it for indoors in winter because $10 buys enough tobacco to last the whole season plus leftovers, and the nicotine levels that kill bugs are too low to cause any real harm to kids or pets. Don't use it in the garden, though. Nicotine can kill just about ANY bug, including the ones you want to have around.

 

[ShadyStump]

Does it seem the wooly aphid attacks just one plant? (vs other insects getting all over) Is it an indicator of something?

I get aphids indoors in winter just about every year, just not wooly aphids usually, and not normally any real problems until February. The China dolls tend to lean toward mealybugs especially.
This year, though, I some how got hit with just about EVERYTHING right off the bat. My hibiscus have been covered in mites all season. I had the kids catching jumping spiders and bringing them into the house in hopes they'd help out. Hence I didn't use the tobacco tea this season.

I actually had a hatch of praying mantis in January, but they all promptly disappeared.

 

[ShadyStump]

The problem with woolly aphid is they also live on the roots under the soil. The treatments mentioned are all contact insecticides. They may kill off all the visible above ground bugs but meanwhile the ones under the soil continue breeding and feeding. Sooner or later some will move back up into the light.
Systemic insecticide is the only thing I've found that will deal with both above and below ground and give you a definite break from reinfestation.

I may start doing this in fall when the tropicals come in. I tend to avoid the harsh chemical stuff because kids and pets are in my trees all winter, but the kids are getting older and the dog will only learn the hard way anyways.

 

[Melospiza]

An old toothbrush and water are a great first defense against wooly aphids.