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Pests & Diseases - Australia

Cannot Identify these white bugs with silky sacs.

20 years ago

Hello there, I'm new to Australia, and live in an Brisbane suburb. I cannot seem to find a match on the internet for the tiny insects on my newly-planted mandarin tree. I thought the insects were dead, but now they have also shown up on a nearby ivy flower plant. The small white bugs have a couple notable legs, although I haven't seen a single one move, even when I try to prod it a bit. They also have white, silky sacs that are attached to the leaves, and also between the stem and main stalk of the plants. The silky sacs are very sticky to the touch. I bought the tree from Kmart and it had all these insects already on it, so I figured that they weren't harmful (and I thought they were dead). Now that they are on an adjacent plant I know somethings up. However, I haven't seen any damage yet done by the critters. They are not in clusters, but are more scattered about a bit, so I didn't think they were the white scale that I've read so much about (but haven't been able to find pictures of). Anyone have any ideas? I can send pictures if my description doesn't help much. Thanks!

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Comments (4)

gardenlen
20 years ago
g'day kidinheat,

might be mealy bug hey?? do search for them or the thrip family if the plant was infested when you bought it you should have taken it back or as has happened to you the infestation will spread.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens agrden page
User
20 years ago
Many Welcomes to the Forum......Yes I agree with Len. I would never had bought it home, actually I would have asked someone about it, not that there is anyone there, or that even anyone knows about these things, but up at the front desk they would have found someone that could have talked to you about it.. Have a look at the link below see if they look like them ......Cheers..MM.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mealy Bugs
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kidinheat
Original Author
20 years ago
Yeah they look very simliar--unfortunately. I gotta admit I've never grown anything and don't have anyone to show me how its done--so I guess I've gotta learn the hard way! :D I wiped every single leaf top and bottom with a soft sponge to remove all of the little critters (as gardenet.com.au suggested)and promptly drowned them in soap water. For now, I have checked every little crevice for them. If that doesn't work (though I sure hope it does, took quite some time!), I'll maybe get some ladybirds. I'd like to use chemicals as a last resort, but we'll see what happens. Thanks for your help!
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20 years ago
They sound like case moth or bag moths,

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