Mealy bugs

[tamadrummer]

I am having a problem with Mealy bugs in all of my customers viburnums after I trim them. Each account that I have picked up has had over grown shrubs and needed heavy shearing and it seems that this opens the plants up to instant infestation.

Is this common with viburnum? Should I shear them again or do like I have done and just selectively prune until the PCO can treat the infestation? It really worries me that I will do more harm than good if I go shearing again.

Could it be the Fluid Film I use calling the bugs in? I use it religiously, I just don't hear other LCO's talking about pests in their customers ornamentals.

Any advice as to how to proceed would be truly helpful. These bugs are driving me crazy!!

[Greg Amann]

Which variety are you seeing them on? Suspensum, odoratissimum, awabuki, etc.
I haven't seen mealybugs in our area (central florida) being a problem on any of the above varieties of viburnum.
Maybe Ric has some experience with mealybugs on viburnum and could chime in.
I would think cutting them back would remove alot of the problems. As well as increasing airflow that assists in keeping the population suppressed some.
If they are a problem I think an application of Imidipro or equivalent would take care of the problem.

[PHS]

I can't give you a direct answer to your question but a possible scenario is that heavy shearing creates a flush of tender growth that pests, especially aphids, like to feed on. Another situation that's very common is that mealy bugs, scales, etc, thrive inside a dense plant or on the lower leaves closer to the ground or the backside closest to a wall where it's warmer. When you trim off the clean new growth you're exposing what's already infested.

[tamadrummer]

Viburnum Suspensum. I guess this is the most common around this part anyway, they are used in hedge rows everywhere.

I cannot spray anything on the shrubs, I am not licensed to do so. I will be calling the PCO who I am friends with to ask him to hit them with something.

I believe it is too hot to use hort oil at this point, even at 1/2 strength?

Thanks for the help so far.

[Ric]

I am having a problem with Mealy bugs in all of my customers viburnums after I trim them. Each account that I have picked up has had over grown shrubs and needed heavy shearing and it seems that this opens the plants up to instant infestation.

Is this common with viburnum? Should I shear them again or do like I have done and just selectively prune until the PCO can treat the infestation? It really worries me that I will do more harm than good if I go shearing again.

Could it be the Fluid Film I use calling the bugs in? I use it religiously, I just don't hear other LCO's talking about pests in their customers ornamentals.

Any advice as to how to proceed would be truly helpful. These bugs are driving me crazy!!


tamadrummer

Google Pink Hibiscus Mealy Bugs. First site to pop up should be Ifas or

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/mealybug/mealybug.htm

Now left clink Insecticidal control.

Now I am not going to claim to know more than IFas, But like all resources you must use a little common sense and not trust everything you read on the Internet. Safari is expensive but will control them. Ifas is becoming more and more a Mean GREEN Machine. Look for local Fertilizer laws in you area if the proposed State Fertilizer law doesn't pass this next session. It was tabled in the last session because of a late introduction. As written the proposed Fertilizer Law is very good and fair to both sides. Some of the county ordinances are totally off the wall and like prohibition will never be enforceable Just hope the Mean Green Machine doesn't kill the state deal the way they always do falling on their sword.

BTW Sorry I don't have the link to a pdf file of the Proposed State wide Fertilizer Law. I have a pdf file that was e mailed to me.

[greendoctor]

Just when I was starting to depend on them as a resource. Now IFAS is just like UH, mandating what is politically correct, instead of what will be effective.

[tamadrummer]

Ric,

Thank you for the link/tip but my bugs are not pink as far as I have been able to tell.

One customer has treated them himself with sevin and it actually did stop them as far as I can tell because the shrub is not showing signs of damage any longer and no more sooty mold plus I simply do not see the bugs.

The pink hibiscus mealy bug is scary after reading that, kind of like the red palm mite that just found its way here in November. No known way to kill it or even treat it other than I would assume soaps/oils?

I would be greatful if you would email me the pdf for the fert proposal that you are seeing on the horizon. bnbawns@gmail.com

If not thanks anyway and thanks very much for the help. You guys don't owe me anything and have helped a ton!

[Ric]

Just when I was starting to depend on them as a resource. Now IFAS is just like UH, mandating what is politically correct, instead of what will be effective.

Green

Welcome to the Green Peace Master Plan. However we are now having a conflict over the New Proposed Wind Electric Generating Power Plant. Seems there are two Gopher Turtles nesting on the 300 acre site that have ruled out the building of that project. The Proposed Hydro-Electric Dam would have flood Scrub Jay habitat, so a Tidal Generators was the next choice until it was found to of endangered the Fiddler Crab.

[KrayzKajun]

try a lil Lemon dawn soap and water! works most of the tme.

Aphids and mealy bugs here are immune to this now

[Ric]

Ric,

Thank you for the link/tip but my bugs are not pink as far as I have been able to tell.

One customer has treated them himself with sevin and it actually did stop them as far as I can tell because the shrub is not showing signs of damage any longer and no more sooty mold plus I simply do not see the bugs.

The pink hibiscus mealy bug is scary after reading that, kind of like the red palm mite that just found its way here in November. No known way to kill it or even treat it other than I would assume soaps/oils?

I would be greatful if you would email me the pdf for the fert proposal that you are seeing on the horizon. bnbawns@gmail.com

If not thanks anyway and thanks very much for the help. You guys don't owe me anything and have helped a ton!

tamadrummer


Pink Hisbicus Mealy bugs are pink at birth but turn White very quickly there after. If your customer used Sevin and got rid of them, then maybe they weren't Pink Hisbicus Mealy Bugs.

Red Palm Mites can be a problem but a couple of treatment with a Real Miticide should control them.

BAD NEWS

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following
addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<bnbawns@gmail.com>:
66.249.83.27 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550-5.1.1 This Gmail user does not exist. Please try
double-checking


I will try and post it to LS.

[Ric]

tamadrummer

The PDF file is 19.1 MB and LS will only allow 3 MB. Sorry I need a better E mail address to sent it to you.

Try the Bureau of Compliance, Division of Fertilizer and Seed. That is who e mailed it to me.

[tamadrummer]

tamadrummer@verizon.net is my isp email.

[Ric]

Tamadrummer

You just are suppose to have this PDF. Sorry I am done trying.


Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following
addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<tamadrummer@verizon.net>:
206.46.232.11 failed after I sent the message.
Remote host said: 552 5.3.4 a message size of 20482 kilobytes exceeds
the size limit of 20480 kilobytes computed for this transaction

[tamadrummer]

Oh well, thanks for trying. Most won't allow attachments that large but it was worth a try.

[greendoctor]

Green

Welcome to the Green Peace Master Plan. However we are now having a conflict over the New Proposed Wind Electric Generating Power Plant. Seems there are two Gopher Turtles nesting on the 300 acre site that have ruled out the building of that project. The Proposed Hydro-Electric Dam would have flood Scrub Jay habitat, so a Tidal Generators was the next choice until it was found to of endangered the Fiddler Crab.

The Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club and a local organization known as the Outdoor circle are potential sources of grief for me. The University Of Hawaii School of Tropical Agriculture gives credibility to their extremist agenda, so they are no help either. No one of them has my respect until they stop telling farmers, nurserymen, LCO's and IVM professionals how to do their job and get out there to hand pull every weed or hand remove every insect. When that happens, I will stop spraying when needed. One more thing, I also want them to personally topdress every lawn and landscape with compost or they do not have the right to tell me fertilizer is bad.

[PHS]

However we are now having a conflict over the New Proposed Wind Electric Generating Power Plant.

This kind of stuff I don't understand whatsoever. I know of a number of wind generation plants that have been shut down for insignificant reasons. There are few less impactful economically feasible ways to generate electricity than through wind power yet the so called environmentalists pitch a fit anytime one of these is proposed. More and more I think these people just hate humanity in general and want to hamstring capitalism. "Environmental concerns" is just the legal monkeywrench they use to jam up anything they don't like.

[greendoctor]

For this same reason, the oil and Automotive industry is hamstrung as well. I always drool over the high performance and efficient diesel vehicles sold in the rest of the world. But the Anti-progress types kept them out by making a big fuss over soot. My answer to that is give up your gas burning cars and SUV's, start pedaling. I will hit the roof if I get lectured by an environmentalist that still drives. Lets see them give up their cars.

[Ric]

For this same reason, the oil and Automotive industry is hamstrung as well. I always drool over the high performance and efficient diesel vehicles sold in the rest of the world. But the Anti-progress types kept them out by making a big fuss over soot. My answer to that is give up your gas burning cars and SUV's, start pedaling. I will hit the roof if I get lectured by an environmentalist that still drives. Lets see them give up their cars.

Green

Like Egore gave up his private jet that burns more fuel than 20 cars each year???

I jest about the two Gopher turtles, But the Humor is because it is a REAL life problem with these people. Green People are getting in the way of their own progress. Take Organic Landscape Management. Organics has a real place in landscape management. But don't expect us to totally convert today. The more Organics we use the less synthetic we use. So don't fight us tooth and nail and let there be a bridge program that uses both??? My mother taught me 1/2 of something was better than All of nothing. BTW Organic fertilizer in sandy soil is very effective, It also helps make synthetics last longer and helps to hold moisture.

[gorknoids]

PETA uses ChemLawn.

[greendoctor]

Green

Like Egore gave up his private jet that burns more fuel than 20 cars each year???

I jest about the two Gopher turtles, But the Humor is because it is a REAL life problem with these people. Green People are getting in the way of their own progress. Take Organic Landscape Management. Organics has a real place in landscape management. But don't expect us to totally convert today. The more Organics we use the less synthetic we use. So don't fight us tooth and nail and let there be a bridge program that uses both??? My mother taught me 1/2 of something was better than All of nothing. BTW Organic fertilizer in sandy soil is very effective, It also helps make synthetics last longer and helps to hold moisture.

I will accept that. I am a big believer in organics and IPM. But please do not anyone force me to use what does not work or is impractical ecconomically. I will do what works efficiently and in a real world time frame. I am not hired to make a lawn better 5 years from now or to let someone's $50,000 landscape become bug food. I do lots of scouting before making a decision to spray. That rotation I mention involving every pesticide on the market is not implemented unless I do not see beneficial insects making real progress on a severe pest infestation. Tell me what I may and may not do, however I demand to know who compensates my clients for loss of their lawn or landscape. I do not see the EPA, Sierra Club or even the UH lining up at my client's doors to pay them for the damage happening as a result of the politically correct mandate.

[Ric]

I will accept that. I am a big believer in organics and IPM. But please do not anyone force me to use what does not work or is impractical ecconomically. I will do what works efficiently and in a real world time frame. I am not hired to make a lawn better 5 years from now or to let someone's $50,000 landscape become bug food. I do lots of scouting before making a decision to spray. That rotation I mention involving every pesticide on the market is not implemented unless I do not see beneficial insects making real progress on a severe pest infestation. Tell me what I may and may not do, however I demand to know who compensates my clients for loss of their lawn or landscape. I do not see the EPA, Sierra Club or even the UH lining up at my client's doors to pay them for the damage happening as a result of the politically correct mandate.

Green

I am right on the coast and most all my accounts have canals that lead directly to harbor and then the Gulf of Mexico. Yes their boats cost more than the upscale homes. But my point is social consciousness. I can not sleep knowing I am using excessive chemical that are leaching or running off into the worlds oceans. But the KEY word is excessive.

IPM stands for I PAY MATERIAL. I don't throw my money away in green back form or purchased chemical form if I can help it. But I do owe a duty to my customer to preserve their Landscape. Palm Bores can kill a $ 5,000.00 Pineapple palm and I know of nothing that can control them LEGALLY. Somehow my customer don't have to worry about their Pineapple Palms. I am all for being socially conscious of the environment to the point of common sense. But the real Key to the problem is Education on both sides. Sarasota County Florida has just passed ordinance banning the application of Nitrogen and Phosphate from June 1st to Sept. 30th each year. BTW that is our rainy season and best growing time of year. How can those Idiots expect to get compliance of a Law that has no rythme or reason.


gorknoids

Don't get me started on PETA. I used to have a Horse & Carriage Business, PETA picketed me. I unhooked the over a ton Draft horse and pulled the carriage my own 125 lb self. That big old Draft horse didn't have it all that bad. Thank Heavens the Police showed up and demanded they have a permit to picket my operation. BTW this is the short story of what happened. You don't want the long version.

[Dano50]

Could it be the Fluid Film I use calling the bugs in?

It should actually have the opposite effect. From what we've seen and heard, bugs and rodents don't like Fluid Film and will avoid areas where it has been sprayed.

Good luck!