Scaly insects on citrus trees (in the UK)

[Thomzo]

It's amazing

[Thomzo]

Well I theoretically had a go at the weekend (only theoretically of course - I wouldn't dream of doing anything illegal).

In my mind I mixed up one teaspoon of washing up liquid with two teaspoons of sunflower oil in a litre of water in a spray bottle.

The mixture would have foamed a lot so it's good to have a lot of spare space in the spray bottle. I would then take the plants outside and gave them a good spray. I would probably use a whole bottle on the largest orange and another on the other two plants.

One big advantage would be that I could spray with one hand and rub the little critters off with my other hand. I expect they would come off really easily. I wouldn't want to expose my skin to too much of the commercial pesticide.

The plants would look lovely and glossy and smell nice too (I would use citrus burst washing up liquid of course). I could quite happily do this every week or so. The commercial pesticide says you can only use it twice per crop. That simply isn't enough for my plants they get really covered in days.

The other advantage is that the containers would get a good clean at the same time. No chance of the little critters lurking in the nooks and crannies.

Of course I wouldn't recommend that anyone does anything so dangerous as to clean a house plant using something that you eat, drink and wash your dishes in!

Seriously, does anyone know if I can do anything to the environment to help reduce the infestations. Should I be misting my plants with water or feeding more/less or anything like that?

Cheers
Zoe

[lorax]

You can get nematodes for the treatment of scale insect in the UK see http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/fo ... mTFF44DC2F

However, I'm going to try the oil/washing up liquid first as it's a lot cheaper

[Thomzo]

Hi lorax
I would recommend it. Mine are still looking fairly insect free and it's over a month now since I tried it. The plants look lovely and healthy too.

Zoe

[contadino]

So did you get to the bottom of what these scaly fellas were? Are they something called Scaley (or Red) Mites, which I've heard affect citrus trees raised indoors, or something particularly UK-based? Like Blair Bugs or Steak & Kidney Pie Beetle?

[Thomzo]

Blair bugs (as in Tony?) or Steak and Kidney pie beetle?

I just know them as scale insects. Small (about 1/4 inch max), oval, dark brown. Never seen them move but they must get there somehow. They excrete a sticky residue which starts clear but goes black quickly and makes a mess of everything.

Zoe

[lorax]

Tried the oil/water mix today, but used Ecover as it's the only washing up liquid I've got, I see what happens.

How long did your lemons take to ripen in the UK Zoe, mine (which set last year are still green, although my calamondins have been orange for two months now?

[Thomzo]

Hi
My sweet lemons were green for months then suddenly one day they went all yellow. It was a real surprise, especially as it happened in the depths of winter.

The first crop though didn't go yellow at all. Just went mushy after a while (a very long while). Try one and see if it's useable.

Zoe

[the.fee.fairy]

Tried the oil/water mix today, but used Ecover as it's the only washing up liquid I've got, I see what happens.

I would think that Ecover would be better than the other stuff - the active ingredients in Ecover are plant-based and so do less damage to your plant and soil.

Theoretically, i remember a discussion at some point (can't remember where...) where they were talking about using bath water on vegetables. The gereal concensus was that if you could eat the stuff you used in the bath (ie natural products) then there shouldn't be a problem putting it on your crops.

This is theoretical though, in practice, its up to you whether you feel that you want/don't want the chemicals washin into the soil. personally, i use bath products from Lush, and i'd eat all of them, so if i get Lush flavour carrots, it really won't be a problem!!

[arachnid]

Thanks for the educational tips here. Naturally, I'll only be keeping them for interest and not for use either.

The other thing that I've seen recommended for scale is to dab each one with a smear of methylated spirits (use a paintbrush) but it can take a while on a big tree

[Thomzo]

Well I couldn't understand how they kept coming back so quickly. I was clearing all the citrus plants of them regularly. Now I've just realised they are in the ivy that's high up in a planter on the wall. So that's next for the treatment.

I wish I knew how they moved though. They just seem to sit there. I've never seen one fly or walk or move in any way.

Zoe

[flower]

apparently (or so I've read)
if you prise them off (or they get old and drop off themselves) they give a little puff of white powder.
this powder adheres to any damp surface and is a sort spore, growing a brand new bug.

That would certainly explain how your ivy was spreading them so successfully.

I'm going to go and hyperthetically spray my grapevine now, so big thanks to whoever posted that recipe

[the.fee.fairy]

i might have tried the solution on some whitefly eating my mint at the weekend.

It might have worked very well!

[Thomzo]

Ah Fee - that's interesting. I guess it would have the same effect.

Interesting about how they puff themselves about as well. I suppose the oil might prevent them from doing that.

[lorax]

I thought the baby scale insects could move and this stage is called crawlers. The adults are immobile.

Anyway the illegal recipe definitely reduced the numbers of insects, although I did have to give it another go. Tried it on my clematis and bay tree now. Wonder how it would work on the flea beetle down the allotment which makes lacy patterns in my rocket, mizuna, radishes, turnips, bok choi....