A stressed or neglected bougainvillea attracts the cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) and the melon aphid (Aphis gossypii). You may also find that the plant has a sticky residue on it. Mealybugs are attracted to bougainvilleas. You will find this residue mostly on the stems and leaves. Mealybugs love succulents. Aphids are tiny insects that come in a variety of colors but they’re most commonly pale green. Look carefully at all leaf surfaces, above and below, and examine the tender new growth. Adult females and nymphs of bougainvillea mealybug (Photo by Gevork Arakelian) Distribution: Native to South America (Argentina, Peru).Introduced into Great Britain and Mediterranean coast of Europe.In the U.S.: infested plants were found in … Appearance and Distribution of the Pest. It would get mealybugs and I would dab them off with a cotton … A hard jet of water from the hose will knock aphids off the bougainvillea. Treat it with a houseplant spray with mealybugs listed on the label. In the U.S.: infested plants were found in the nursery trade in southern California (under … Step 2 Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with few drops of Dawn dish soap and 1 quart (32oz) of water. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Cowpea Aphid, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Melon Aphids, Bougainvillea Growers International: Pests and Diseases, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Citrus Mealybugs, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Brown Soft Scale, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Giant Whitefly, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Bougainvillea Looper, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Spinosad, Difference Between Mandevilla & Bougainvillea. Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink, in Granara de Willink & Szumik, 2007, the bougainvillea mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), is recorded from California and North America for the first time. Like aphids, they are easy to wash off the plant with a strong blast of water or use neem oil. Exercise a healthy maintenance program that incorporates natural controls with environmentally friendly substance applications to keep those bugs away from bougainvillea leaves. Take good care of your plants. Now the goop is back. Brown soft scale resembles a brown or yellowish brown small bump on the bougainvillea. Mealybugs & Ants These are probably the most insidious bougainvillea pests, as they can live on your ornamentals for years without being noticed. Tuber Mealybug (Pseudococcus affinis) The Mealybugs (Pseudococcus adonidum) and (Planococcus citri) are a major pest of cacti species, sucking sap and turning the infected area yellow. Don’t apply sprays on a windy day. Over-fertilizing your bougainvillea will kill it. It feeds in the evening, leaving ragged leaf edges and may strip the plant of its leaves. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in creative writing. insecticidal soap with 1 quart of warm water. horticultural oil and ½ tsp. How to Get a Bougainvillea Plant Part to Root, Bougainvillea Growers International: Hardiness Zone Search. Aphids are very small and pear-shaped while spider mites look like tiny, moving dots. That’s the white trail that they leave behind. Use gloves and eye protection, and employ a respirator if applicable. Practice good plant cultural habits. Choose a preparation labeled for your particular pest and follow the packaging instructions carefully. They feed intensively on the sap of plants. The Bougainvillea Looper caterpillar will eat the plant's leaves away. If you only have a few mealybugs on your plants, try washing them off with a steady stream of water. Dip cotton balls and swabs in alcohol and remove all visible mealybugs. Identify your bugs and use appropriate preparations labeled for targeting pests. You may overlook them but try not to: they cause bougainvilleas leaves to drop massively. Inspect your bougainvillea daily for the presence of insect pests, which may be mature bugs or their larvae, or caterpillars. If you see something which looks like white cotton on your plants, then it’s mealybugs. This preparation is effective for thrips, mealy bugs and spider mites, which are difficult to fight with other methods. View full size in a new window Infestation on potted annuals Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Early in the morning or just after dusk are the best times to do this. You will probably have to treat repeatedly. But it came back rather nicely. Brands vary, so make sure you follow the label's instructions. Spray a ready-to-use spinosad product on the bougainvillea to completely cover every leaf, top and bottom. the mealybug settles on leaves, bracts, and soft plant tissue where it feeds on sap, reducing plant growth and causing leaves to fall when high populations are present. Place a piece of white paper under the foliage and shake the limbs. All Rights Reserved. He publishes online articles with major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness. They look like small cottony masses placed at branch crotches and leaf stems. Protect yourself when using any substance controls. Wash your bougainvillea’s leaves with the solution and rinse them thoroughly. He also covers parenting, juvenile science experiments, cooking and alternative/home remedies. Honeydew is the top food source for ants, and that’s why they protect mealybugs from predators and transport them to other plants. A few bugs such as aphids, looping caterpillars, thrips and spider mites may pose a threat. Use balls to clean the leaves and swabs to clean inside the gaps. These catch all kinds of bugs--particularly aphids--and will indicate what’s eating your plant so that you can treat it accordingly. A full-time writer since 2007, Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient. Here's how to stop a mealybug infestation: 1. Choose a preparation labeled for your particular pest and follow the packaging instructions carefully. Her articles have appeared at Trulia.com, SFGate.com, GardenGuides.com, RE/MAX.com, MarketLeader.com, RealEstate.com, USAToday.com and in "Chicago Agent" magazine, to name a few. Bougainvillea is among the fastest growing plants. Aphids suck the juices from the plant and then excrete a substance known as honeydew that attracts fungus that then creates sooty mold, a black powdery substance. Handsome, robust and sturdy, the healthy, mature bougainvillea is undemanding and relatively pest-free. Cut away and dispose of infested foliage. To ensure that bougainvillea blooms abundantly, strategically put it at a location where it is exposed to the direct… Ants Spread the Mealybugs Infestation. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! As spider mites hate moisture, it is advisable to rinse the plants, and then increase the humidity by spraying. The bougainvillea looper (Disclisioprocta stellata) is a 1-inch-long yellow, green or brown caterpillar. Beneficial insects can be purchased from gardening centers. A bougainvillea performs best when it is slightly stressed, so there’s a fine line between urging it to flower and inviting pests. Hand pick any bugs that you find and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. However, when indoors, you may want to keep an eye out for mealybugs, a common indoor pest. Keep the soil somewhat dry between waterings and fertilize it in spring and again in midsummer with a general-purpose fertilizer diluted to half strength, usually 1/2 tablespoon per 1 gallon of water. Handsome, robust and sturdy, the healthy, mature bougainvillea is undemanding and relatively pest-free. These are mealy bugs, a very difficult insect to control. BT is readily available at gardening centers. A piece of white paper under the foliage and shake the limbs cutting it back! Standing up to heat, drought and some neglect leaves and leave white... Leaves with the active ingredient spinosad are effective against the bougainvillea looper way to manage infestation... Masses placed at branch crotches and leaf stems be mature bugs or their larvae, use! Not eliminated, the healthy, mature bougainvillea is undemanding and relatively pest-free since 2007, J.!, up to heat, drought and some beetle species the caterpillars is the best way to manage infestation... 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