pests My first "Pest ID" question so be nice...

Nuclieye · May 20, 2015

Have this crap on my super hots and crosses only, rest of the garden is normal. Any plant with these is hurting, whats the heck is it and what to do? Edit... They are always found on the stems of plants, never a leaf.

Phil · May 20, 2015

Those look like the villainous white flies to me. When you hit the bush, they swarm.... Treat them the same as you would treat for aphids. Mineral oil spray should do the trick.

OCD Chilehead · May 20, 2015

I was going to say whiteflies as well, but it looks like White powdery mildew or mold of some sort.

CAPCOM · May 20, 2015

it does look like some kind of fungus.

floricole · May 20, 2015

mealybug

suchen · May 20, 2015

Does look like mealybugs to me. Some of the palm trees down here get them.

SL3 · May 20, 2015

Son, your growing cotton!

Sorry couldn't resist. Ya really shouldn't have added the "be nice".

Yes it does look mealybug like, but get yourself a magnifying glass and have a closer look. If it's Mealy's do not fertilize any plants right now as they are attracted to plants with high nitrogen levels. Pressure wash off what you can and use some neem oil. Careful on the neem if your growing in direct sunlight or really hot weather. Your in Phoenix so get rid of any Opuntia Cactus (Prickly Pear, Beaver Tail etc). They love that stuff.

Nuclieye · May 20, 2015

White flies are common here because of our cotton grows but no adults flying around here. I've searched each plant for some kind of adult and found nothing. Neem oil has not helped and they are always clustered as if an egg group. I may snip a stem off and bring it in under the microscope but pretty sure they are eggs still.

D3monic · May 20, 2015

If you squish it does it have a deep red dye it leaves behind? Could be Cochineal scales (same shit they make red food dye out of) endemic to Arizona and often affect cactus. Edit: Guess that's the same thing as mealybugs

http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=9592

Nuclieye · May 20, 2015

Well the good news is they are not while flies... I've still got no clue how to eradicate "it" though. Under 400x mag it looks much more like a fungus or something. Never seen this here in Phoenix before and with our humidity near 10% I can't figure this out. Fire?

Capsicum Select · May 20, 2015

Pretty sure they are mealybugs.

From the interwebs:

Prune out light infestations or dab insects with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Do not over water or overfertilize — mealybugs are attracted to plants with high nitrogen levels and soft growth.
Commercially available beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewing and the Mealybug Destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri), are important natural predators of this pest.
Hose off plants with a strong stream of water and reduce pest numbers. Washing foliage regularly with a leaf shine — made from neem oil — will help discourage future infestations.
Insecticidal soap contains potassium salts of fatty acids, which penetrates and damages the outer shells of soft-bodied insect pests, causing dehydration and death within hours.
If pest levels become intolerable, spot treat with a short-lived, natural pesticide that does NOT persist in the environment.

megahot · May 20, 2015

I second the mealy bugs

Nuclieye · May 20, 2015

Have had mealy bugs on cacti before, this is not them by any means. No red when it gets smeared and under the microscope they are not bugs. Starting to think a fungus of some type. Only on reapers and crosses with them so far. 80% H2O2 misting is showing results for a few days then it rebounds to same.

Rymerpt · May 20, 2015

Lepricon poop

Set out a jigger of irish whisky

Don't wanna piss them off

suchen · May 20, 2015

Nuclieye said:
Have had mealy bugs on cacti before, this is not them by any means. No red when it gets smeared and under the microscope they are not bugs. Starting to think a fungus of some type. Only on reapers and crosses with them so far. 80% H2O2 misting is showing results for a few days then it rebounds to same.

Mealybugs. That is the sticky white crap which they use as housing. Physically scrub them off with an old toothbrush, then spray after the sun goes down with neem oil.

RobStar · May 21, 2015

Wooly aphids.

Mealy bugs are found around the root collar and on the roots - they're waxy not wooly. Also they form a little family group - a few big fat fckers that have white waxy crap on them surrounded by loads of little grey ones. Pour water on them and it runs off. Waterproof little shts.

I hate mealy bugs the most. Wooly aphid is easy to get rid off - just use a proprietary aphid spray. And check for ants. Ants move them around because they harvest honeydew from them. I usually have a large infestation every year on my citrus trees - I leave because the bees and wasps have learnt to harvest the honeydew - looks stupid though - bees with cottonwool junk on their pollen combs.

mrgrowguy · May 21, 2015

I am adding my vote towards mealy bugs. Had them on a japanese maple once, same exact looking thing.

Hybrid Mode 01 · May 21, 2015

RobStar beat me to it. Definitely woolly aphids. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriosomatinae

Phil · May 21, 2015

I retract my earlier guess and jump on the mealy bugs bandwagon

Capsicum Select · May 23, 2015

After further research I retract my guess and jump on the wooly aphids bandwagon. Wasn't familiar with them but the pictures definitely resemble them more. Except you say that they aren't bugs under the microscope. Are you only grabbing the cotton looking stuff? Not any sort of fungus i have seen before. If all else fails :flamethrower:

i guess