SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff (cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'. As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

M

In article , Mushtywoof
writes
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff (cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'. As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

No .. they seem to develop resistance to pesticides quite easily. You'd
have got to the same state even with regular spraying ;-)
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Mushtywoof
writes
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff
(cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'.
As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are
too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

No .. they seem to develop resistance to pesticides quite easily. You'd
have got to the same state even with regular spraying ;-)

Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.

Franz

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Mushtywoof
writes
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff
(cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'.
As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are
too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

No .. they seem to develop resistance to pesticides quite easily. You'd
have got to the same state even with regular spraying ;-)

Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.

Franz

"Mushtywoof" wrote in message
. ..
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful
of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray
stuff (cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to
spraying'. As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There
are too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

'Don't know if it is still on the market but there used to be a
product called
"Fowler's Mealy Bug Destroyer",
marketed by Oak Dene Nursery, Barnsley.
It had to be painted on the affected areas - and, as I recall, smelt
like neat white spirit - is that considered organic?
I'm pretty sure that the Oak Dene Nursery specialised in cactus and
succulents.
It worked fine on the visible problem but if you had root mealy bug
then one had to revert to a systemic insecticide - which also treated
the visible problem.
I also think a 'natural predator' was marketed but presumably after it
has seen off the mealy bug, it too will die off.

--
ned

"Mushtywoof" wrote in message
. ..
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful
of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray
stuff (cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to
spraying'. As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There
are too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

'Don't know if it is still on the market but there used to be a
product called
"Fowler's Mealy Bug Destroyer",
marketed by Oak Dene Nursery, Barnsley.
It had to be painted on the affected areas - and, as I recall, smelt
like neat white spirit - is that considered organic?
I'm pretty sure that the Oak Dene Nursery specialised in cactus and
succulents.
It worked fine on the visible problem but if you had root mealy bug
then one had to revert to a systemic insecticide - which also treated
the visible problem.
I also think a 'natural predator' was marketed but presumably after it
has seen off the mealy bug, it too will die off.

--
ned

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Mushtywoof
writes
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff
(cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'.
As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are
too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

No .. they seem to develop resistance to pesticides quite easily. You'd
have got to the same state even with regular spraying ;-)

Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.

Franz

"Mushtywoof" wrote in message
. ..
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful
of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray
stuff (cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to
spraying'. As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There
are too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

'Don't know if it is still on the market but there used to be a
product called
"Fowler's Mealy Bug Destroyer",
marketed by Oak Dene Nursery, Barnsley.
It had to be painted on the affected areas - and, as I recall, smelt
like neat white spirit - is that considered organic?
I'm pretty sure that the Oak Dene Nursery specialised in cactus and
succulents.
It worked fine on the visible problem but if you had root mealy bug
then one had to revert to a systemic insecticide - which also treated
the visible problem.
I also think a 'natural predator' was marketed but presumably after it
has seen off the mealy bug, it too will die off.

--
ned

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Mushtywoof
writes
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff
(cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'.
As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are
too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

No .. they seem to develop resistance to pesticides quite easily. You'd
have got to the same state even with regular spraying ;-)

Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.

Franz

"Mushtywoof" wrote in message
. ..
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful
of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray
stuff (cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to
spraying'. As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There
are too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

'Don't know if it is still on the market but there used to be a
product called
"Fowler's Mealy Bug Destroyer",
marketed by Oak Dene Nursery, Barnsley.
It had to be painted on the affected areas - and, as I recall, smelt
like neat white spirit - is that considered organic?
I'm pretty sure that the Oak Dene Nursery specialised in cactus and
succulents.
It worked fine on the visible problem but if you had root mealy bug
then one had to revert to a systemic insecticide - which also treated
the visible problem.
I also think a 'natural predator' was marketed but presumably after it
has seen off the mealy bug, it too will die off.

--
ned

In article , Franz Heymann notfranz.
writes


Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.


I'm talking about a time scale of years rather than months. A greenhouse
is a largely closed environment, so it's more of a problem than the
garden generally. Certainly I no longer find pesticides effective
against mealy bug and red spider mite.

Generations in both mealy bug and rsm come thick and fast!

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Franz Heymann wrote:

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Mushtywoof
writes
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff
(cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'.
As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are
too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

No .. they seem to develop resistance to pesticides quite easily. You'd
have got to the same state even with regular spraying ;-)

Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.

Part and part.. Mealy bugs are designed ( with a waxy/fluffy) coating
to shed any water based insecticides)

Resistance ususally does occur over generations however pests may arrive
with 'built in' resistance to some chems if the said ingredient has been
used on their forebears in the nursery..
As Kay said its a closed environment. Hence you can have whitefly and
'greenhouse' whitefly (now actually differently identified!;-)

Moving back to the OP's problem. We ususally paint with meths, and risk
some damage to the cactus. Its not organic, but is a very controlled
application.
/
Jim

"Kay Easton" wrote in message
...
In article , Franz Heymann notfranz.
writes


Kay, could you do a bit of explaining please:

I presume that the development of a resistance to a pesticide is a
genetic
process. I envisage it as occcuring when one specimen undergoes a
genetic
modification in the desired direction, and subsequent sexually
transmitted
mixings spreading it through a population. If this is so, I don't think
one
will notice as quick an immunity as you imply.

Please tell me what I misunderstand.


I'm talking about a time scale of years rather than months.

Nuff said.

A greenhouse
is a largely closed environment, so it's more of a problem than the
garden generally. Certainly I no longer find pesticides effective
against mealy bug and red spider mite.

Generations in both mealy bug and rsm come thick and fast!

I understand better now, thanks. I had an impression (wrongly) that you
meant that the effect might be seen within a season.

Franz

"ned" wrote in message
...

"Mushtywoof" wrote in message
. ..
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful
of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ?
'Don't know if it is still on the market but there used to be a
product called
"Fowler's Mealy Bug Destroyer",
marketed by Oak Dene Nursery, Barnsley.
It had to be painted on the affected areas - and, as I recall, smelt
like neat white spirit - is that considered organic?
I'm pretty sure that the Oak Dene Nursery specialised in cactus and
succulents.
It worked fine on the visible problem but if you had root mealy bug
then one had to revert to a systemic insecticide - which also treated
the visible problem.
I also think a 'natural predator' was marketed but presumably after it
has seen off the mealy bug, it too will die off.

--
ned

Painting with a spirit is standard practice (but an old toothbrush and a
little water works just as well) the bio control is an Australian lady bird,
its one aim in life is to return to Aus! and you have to completely seal the
greenhouse (I used net curtains) to keep its mind on the job. I find dayly
checking with my trusty tooth brush works best, I don't grow cacti but I
suspect they might be tricky to get into the nooks and crannies, an air jet
may help?

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

"Mushtywoof" wrote in message
. ..
SCREAM

I went into my greenhouse today and spotted mealy bug on a handful of
cacti.........how can i get rid of them ? I have a can of spray stuff
(cant
recall the name offhand) but it says to 'water well prior to spraying'.
As
the cacti are now to be kept dry till spring what can i do ? There are
too
many for me to pick them off, i havent got that much time free!

I like to be 'organic' so dont routinely spray to debug 'just in
case'.....is this my downfall ?

M


If the cacti are sufficiently robust, I would risk getting them wet, and try
to physically remove as many as possible of the mealy bugs by holding the
affected areas under a fast runnning cold water tap, or blast the affected
areas with a water jet from a garden spayer. Wear gloves and hold the pot
and plant approximately horizontal during spraying to minimise the amount of
water landing on the soil / compost in the pot. This may remove most of the
mealy bugs, leaving just a few to remove by hand.

Drain as much water as possible from the pot when you have finished, and
maybe allow the compost to dry in your house before putting the plants back
in your greenhouse.