Here is where I posted my pics: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg0600083223831.html http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg062133597401.html?2

Sorry, I know not to confuse by using brand names for insecticides, which are rarely used out of the US. I still can't spell imidacloprid. Or is it imadicloprid? At least I now know it isn't imaticloprid. Oh well, now none of you will be able to spell it either .( . Supposedly this stuff works but is highly water soluble. So, it must be watered in carefully. The granules aren't water soluble though. But, the insecticide washes off the granules. So, one must not be confused by seeing the granules still on the surface of the soil. I would guess that the best way to use Marathon would be to water the plant while in a flat bottomed saucer, so that all the run-off is reabsorbed. Just make sure the run-off is not accessible to pets or wildlife, if outdoors. Hopefully one doesn't have wildlife indoors. I have to admit that I have some plants that seem to be poorly treated by Marathon. I have some old nematanthus in my greenhouse that have mealies on their new growth. I keep putting in Marathon over and over. I know it is working because the pests are not taking over the plant, as they would if they could. But, at the same time they keep persisting. I wonder if it is that the plant isn't happy in its location, or the insecticide washes through and isn't absorbed enough. Or, that the plant is too large for the insecticide to fully innoculate all the growth out to the tips. Old foliage seems to be clean, its just the new tips that get bugged. I know what I have to do though. I have another insecticide that unfortunately isn't sold anymore, called Knox-out. It is encapsulated diazanon--supposedly the incapsulation makes it very safe for us mammals. When sprayed on the plant it sticks to the surface and kills the bugs when the come into contact with it. So, it sort of works like a systemic, in that it kills long after spraying. But, it wouldn't be on new growth that occurs after spraying. I will clean up a plant with Knox-out and then use Marathon to keep it clean--HOPEFULLY! Back in the good old days, people didn't have our problems. If they saw bugs they went in and sprayed with one of those super-powerful insecticides and killed everything including eventually themselves. Jon

I'm going to repeat my post from two years ago, because nothing has changed, and my solution is still working. If you find spots only on the front of your solid-color t-shirts after washing them, this will take care of them. It's a pain, but pre-treating them faithfully with Stain Stick--I now have to order it from Amazon, as WalMart and Kroger stores have quit carrying it--but it relieves the frustration of finding spots on freshly washed clothes. Spots only occur on the fronts of our t-shirts, never the backs or sides, so I think it has to do with getting grease on the front either from cooking or eating. Have you ever seen the spot a tiny crumb of potato or corn chip leaves on a brown paper sack overnight? My solution: pre-treat all visible spots with Stain Stick. Works most of the time, and seems to always work the second time around if there is a spot or two after the first wash. It's a pain, but compared to the trouble of making my own detergent, I'll continue doing it. I tried using spray pre-treatments, but once you spray you can't tell what spots are from the spray and which need to be treated. I have a top-loader and use Costco Free and Clear, but have tried Tide and other detergents, as well. Makes no difference. I use a dryer and fabric softener sheets. I tried no sheets and different brands--no difference. I typically pour the detergent down into the bottom of the tub so it goes into the area below the tub with the holes it, but don't wait to put clothes in until the bottom is covered with water, so it's possible some of the unmixed detergent is getting on the clothes. But as I started off with, if the spots were being caused by the detergent, they wouldn't be just on the fronts of the shirts.

I don't think washing with water is enough for this infestation (not sure how you washed, best would be spraying). Try solution of water and rubbing alcohol. Put it in spray bottle and spray all over the plants, leaves (top and underside), the stems and any nooks and crannies. You need to get it everywhere, these bugs can hide very well. Keep plants out of direct sun while you spray them. Keep checking, it may have to be repeated. If this doesn't help, you may have to get stronger chemicals (I hope someone will recommend). Holes on lemon plant are probably not from these bugs, but again - photo will help! (Difficult to diagnose without seeing patient :-)