Common Pests

Mealybug

Slugs and Snails

Spider_Mite

Scale

Thrip

Characteristics:

Tiny white insects approx 4mm in length. Visible on underside of leaves, very common on indoor and conservatory plants. Woolly cocoons deposited around the infested areas. (see image below)

Symptoms:

These bugs feed on the roots and suck the sap out of leaves, growth is inhibited by their presence. An overall decline in plant health may be observed. In severe infestations plants can become stunted and deformed.

Treatment:

When repotting purchase a quality potting mix that has an ingredient mixed in to combat soil born insects. Use a recommended spray on foliage and soil. DO NOT USE and oil based spray. For root infestations dip the root ball in a bath of insecticide solution.

Slugs and Snails

Characteristics:

Slugs and snails present, enjoy damp, humid environments. (see image below)

Symptoms:

These guys are chompers! you will see obvious leaf damage, holes and half eaten leaves. Slugs can sometimes get into the central growth where severe damage can cause the plants demise

Treatment:

Keep the area free from debris and weeds as these are favoured hiding places. Otherwise a general purpose snail bait is effective. You could also try the old trusted method of beer in a saucer to pickle the little nuisances!

Spider Mite

Characteristics:

You are unable to see these bugs with the naked eye. Likes warm dry areas, indoors and conservatory positions are the perfect environments for spider mites to thrive. Mites are raspers that scrape the top layer (epidermal) off the leaf and consume their contents. (see image below)

Symptoms:

Severe infestations are obvious by the presence of webbing. However it is the deterioration of plant leaves that points to a mite problem. These bugs feed on the leaves leaving small yellow spots where they feed, these spots then turn brown, leaving a speckle effect on the leaves, of which the damage is irreversable.

Treatment:

Spray with a recommended miticide as soon as you see a sign of infestation as these bugs can cause serious damage to your plants.

Scale

Characteristics:

Tiny white / brown insects with a hard outer shell. Limpet looking. Mainly situated on stems and the underside of leaves where they sucker feed. (see image below)

Symptoms:

Leaves turn a sickly yellow and very often sooty mould is also present.

Treatment:

Start by pruning off as much of the infested leaves as possible and suitably dispose. Like all insects it is best to catch them in the juvenile stages as the outer layer is not such a good protection when young. A recommended pesticide should control further infestation, clean the leaves to remove old but dead bugs.

Thrip

Characteristics:

Tiny black bugs (adults) that live on the underside of the leaves, out of direct sunlight. Thrips are also raspers like the spider mite that scrape the epidermal off the leaf and consume their contents. (see image below)

Symptoms:

Discolouration of leaves - silver, bronze, yellow stippling on the top of the leaf. Some curling / disfiguration of leaves may be present, with a possible brown residue on left underside of the leaf.

Treatment:

Insecticide will control these pests with relative ease.