skip to main content

African Violets

Insects? Insect damage? Here's what I saw and have done

6 years ago

Generally speaking, I've been pretty lucky with my plants but it seems lately my luck has turned.

I recently noticed some plants on my mini/plantlet shelf had something happening to the leaves. At first I thought maybe something was up from being mishandled when they were repotted. Or maybe when I sprayed with Physan? Finally got around to taking a better look at one since the leaves were open enough on it.

Hanging onto a stem just below a leaf was what I thought was a piece of peat. I looked even closer and started seeing it move...

Thinking if I saw one there must be more, maybe everywhere, so I immediately took that one and all the rest on the shelf outside and sprayed them with insecticidal soap.

Any ideas as to what is causing the browning on the leaves? Sorry I didn't try getting a shot of the insect, but any ideas on that, too?

This shot's taken with a flash:

This without the flash:

This is a shot of where the plants were inside a couple of covered terrariums since they were repotted. Not sure that's relevant...

I really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

irina_co
6 years ago
I would think that burned edges are from whatever spraying.

If you got foliar mealy bugs - or soil mealy bugs that wondered up the stem - Safer soap is not going to help.

Soil meal bugs are slower to travel - usually you get one infected plant from somewhere - the junior mealies spread through the tray first, then will start moving on to the next trays and down. Inspect your plants, hopefully it is still can be limited to one area. Pop up the plants out of their pots and inspect the root ball. Moving "rice grains" are the SMB. The cheapest ecological way to get rid of them -is take a couple leaves off each plants, wash them with soap, alcohol 1/4 solution, rinse in water - and restart for babies. The rest - black trash bag.

Foliar mealies fly. Florida is covered with foliar mealies - so the growers there are used to spray. I saw quite a nice infestation of foliar mealies in South CA greenhouse recently. Merit is the systemic imidacloprid for spraying. Spray every single one in your collection - AVs and non AVs and wipe shelves with bleach - they put eggs nearby.

Good luck = and do not stress - we all get something every so often. The idea - catch it early - and nail it immediately.
irina_co
4 years ago
Greek Spam - that's new!
Related Discussions
Where can I find pictures of insect damage?
Q
Comments (4)
Katydids will slice buds cleanly, usually vertically. The nymphs (immatures) look like spindly green grasshoppers. They are hard to see. If you try to catch one, anticipate a leap forward and up. However, they don't hollow out. There's a kind of sawfly larva that will hollow out buds, but I don't recall the sliced look. Also I have some large black ants that do this-- not sure whether they initiate the damage, but I think they do. These buds are sliced horizontally and then hollowed. You could apply to the closed buds only an insecticide that is labelled for chewing insects (beetles and worms).
...See More
Discovered different insects damaging dahlias yesterday.
Q
Comments (2)
Highlander, This yr. 1/2 of the dahlias I planted,(a little weird)do have spider mites on them. They are planted in my garden that has a bridge in the middle of it going to the pool. So the dahlias are planted on both sides. On 1 side they have spider mites, growth is stunted but they are still blooming. The leaves are all mottled looking. Going out now to spray w/ Hot pepper wax insect repellent. The mites are spreading and I want to stop this. I used this repellent on my tomato's for white fly and it worked for about 2 wks. It did not hurt the plants or change the taste. But we had a lot of rain and the fly;s are back! Spraying again/bought concentrate and more organic. Last yr. my front yard were I plant orange dahlias were doing great then all of a sudden they looked like they were dying. I dug them up and they had wire worm. I treated them w/Triazicide-concentrate and they came and bloomed all summer in to fall when I dug them up/ treated them and put away for the winter in cellar. This yr they are doing fine, no wire worms. Don't know what the other bug is. Did you go on the bug finder on this site, it is helpful. That is what got me going on this site. Lots of pictures. Good luck karen
...See More
cherry tree bark/insect damage
Q
Comments (3)
Whenever I see frass tubes like this, I think of Ambrosia beetles. These little guys are a real problem on a wide variety of hardwoods, including cherries and other fruit trees. At this point, the beetles (if this is what it is) have infested the heartwood of your tree and have likely carried along a fungus or two with them just for good measure. Unfortunately, there is NOTHING that can be done once a borer like this has done its work. It's not all bad news, though. Healthy, established trees can live for quite some time after an attack, in some instances. Be sure that your tree is well mulched over a generous area. Most people are stingy with the mulch rings around their trees. A three or so inch layer of organic mulch is the best thing you can do for the root system of your tree. As a matter of fact, one of the best tactics of prevention is to do all that you can do to maintain your trees in tip-top health. Mulch is an important factor in that effort. Trees can also very suddenly die. It's amazing that a tiny little beetle can take down trees, isn't it?
...See More
Plum tree insect damage - what can I do?
Q
Comments (11)
Yes, good idea, I now have 2 tough plum rootstocks - 1 here and 1 from a failed peach tree. I'll have to make that new skill jump sometime. Is there a decent simple guide for someone with zero knowledge on grafting?
...See More

Related Stories

LIGHTING Ready to Install a Chandelier? Here's How to Get It Done

By Christine Tusher

Go for a dramatic look or define a space in an open plan with a light fixture that’s a star

GARDENING GUIDES Organic Matters: Thwart Insect Pests With Trap Crops

By Therese Ciesinski

Add a few sacrificial plants to your garden to lure insects away from the harvest

GARDENING GUIDES This Fly Is One of the Most Beneficial Insects Around

By Pollination Press LLC

Meet the syrphid fly, a colorful pollinator that also beats chemicals for controlling aphids and other garden pests

KITCHEN CABINETS Choosing New Cabinets? Here’s What to Know Before You Shop

By Ventana Construction LLC

Get the scoop on kitchen and bathroom cabinet materials and construction methods to understand your options

MOVING Relocating? Here’s How to Make the Big Move Better

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Moving guide, Part 1: How to organize your stuff and your life for an easier household move

ANTIQUES Inherited an Antique? Here’s How to Work It Into Your Home

By Becky Clarke

Find out how to make that beloved vintage piece fit in with your decor

PETS Love Pets? Here’s What to Look for in a House

By Laura Gaskill

Make sure Buddy and Bella will have the safe and comfortable spaces they need

REGIONAL GARDEN GUIDES Delight in Summer’s Garden Glories — Here’s What to Do in June

By Annie Thornton

Wherever you live in the United States, these guides can help you make the most of your summer garden

GARDENING GUIDES Your Garden Is Stirring — Here’s What to Do in February

By Susan Haynes

February is a good time to start seeds, shape up shrubs and watch for the earliest blooms. Here’s what to do in your part of the U.S. now

IDEAS FOR SLOPED LOTS Sloping Yard? Here’s How to Make It Work

By Claudia De Yong Garden Design

Don’t despair if your landscape is on a slope. There are many ways to enjoy the space

Sponsored

More Discussions

violets grow straight up

3

Rooted violet leaves : what now?

4