landlubber wrote:
Hi, my first time of posting here, and I hope someone can help me.
I live in Spain, and have several established bouganvilleas, one of
which has some nasty little bugs. The plant as a whole looks as though
thick white fluffy paint has been thrown over it, but the stems are
becoming black and it is looking very sick. It is quickly being taken
over by this 'paint' which is in fact masses of very tiny little
white insects.
Help, what is it and what should I do about it, I am trying to cut the
worst of it back, but I think I should be using some chemicals to
eradicate it before it spreads to the rest of the garden. Any ideas
please about what I should be doing.
Regards, Landlubber




Would guess woolly aphids...mealy bugs, or a type of scale, all secrete
a honeydew that will turn black with mildew. Several ways to treat for
the insects depending on your preference. Quickest would be a contact
kill insecticide followed by a systemic product. Mechanical means may be
just power washing the plant with the garden hose. There are other
insecticides ranging from insecticidal soaps to oils that seem to have
different degrees of success depending on who you talk to.


Lar