Insects - Aphids
Back to Insects

  (June) We live in El Dorado and there seems to be more and more Mealybugs (I think that is what they are, white, and very good at hopping) and I wonder if you can tell me what product would be helpful in getting rid of them. Thanks for any help.

  I don't think it is mealybugs, but possibly white flies or even aphids, which come in a wide range of colors. While mealybugs are white, you wouldn't see them moving. They are a soft bodied scale and only the tiny babies move by crawling. The adults form a white cottony growth around themselves to protect them from predators and insecticides. Whiteflies tend to "hop" or fly up when disturbed, and they aren't easy to control. Their two favorite hosts are often gardenia and hibiscus, but they attack a wide range of plants. Take your insects to your local county extension office for proper identification. Once you know what your insect is, they will give you some insecticide choices. If you are spraying both ornamentals and edibles at the same time, make sure the product is labeled for both, and pay attention to waiting periods from the last spray until harvest.

  (August) We live in St. Francis County. We have a hackberry tree in our back yard that is about 50 years old. It seems to be dropping sticky droplets on everything. Some of our other plants such as caladiums, hibiscus, and some of our ferns are covered with the residue and are showing some harmful effects. We have tried washing the plants with plain water but the residue is really stubborn. What is it, and why have we never had this problem before. Do you have any suggestions as how to clean our plants. The stuff blows in the breeze and is on all of our yard furniture, cars etc. Help!

  It sounds like you have a problem with aphids or other sucking insect on your hackberry tree. If they build up large enough populations, the resulting honeydew dropping, can be a nuisance. This sticky exudate is the byproduct of their feeding. Where it falls, the plants, lawn furniture and car windows can be quite sticky. If it stays around for any length of time, the honeydew will turn black--which is black sooty mold. It only grows where honeydew is. While aphids or other sucking insects won't adversely affect your hackberry tree, they can create a mess. Try using a strong blast of water on the lower limbs of the tree to knock down some of the insects. You could also spray the lower limbs with an insecticide to cut down on those dropping the honeydew directly. We have had a great growing season for both plants and pests, so it may be why it is worse this year. Removing the exudate off your plant foliage will be more challenging than on patio furniture and cars. With the latter you can use soap and water. For the plants you might try a light, warm soapy solution and then hose it down.

  (September) The leaves on many of our oak trees have white insects on them. It is covering the backs of some leaves, and actually falling off. It just started within the last two weeks. What should I be spraying with? I don’t want to lose my trees.

  Cottony aphids and mealy bugs are present in our gardens right now, but this late in the season I would not be spraying, if they are primarily on deciduous trees. The key is to rake up and destroy the leaves as they fall this season. It has been extremely hot and dry and the insects are building up. They are not going to damage a large tree. It is almost time for the leaves to begin falling naturally, so spraying to protect the leaves now, would be pointless. If the nuisance factor is at play here -- the sticky sap is also falling on your patio furniture or car windows, try taking a garden hose at full force and spraying the trees in the areas where they are most a problem.

  I have some little black bugs that have showed up since I brought my plants in. What can I use to get rid of them? I find them dead on the window seal and sometimes even walking around on my computer desk.

  Chances are good these insects are aphids, since they have been rampant this fall. They reproduce rapidly, so try to get a handle on them quickly. I would try insecticidal soap or one of the pyrethrins which are common in most houseplant insecticides. The insects are easy to kill, but don't ignore them.

Back to Insects