Horrid white fluffy mealy bugs

[Hippocampus]

Last year there was a thread on this subject. The problem seems to have got even worse this year. Just about my whole garden, including our lovely mature fig tree and fruits, is now infested, and I have noticed that it is everywhere else too.

Please can we have another discussion on what to do about this, based on everyone's experience from last year and new knowledge acquired, as there seems to be an epidemic!

[karmels]

Go to the Orman and ask what you shoud buy to clear this problem.
The Orman site is opposite the girne hospital.
They are very nice chaps who will help you find the correct solution, meening spray.

[harita]

I have had the same problem on the hibiscus ..
On the same side of the road coming out of Girne, before the hospital is a small garden shop ..
He keeps a very good insecticide which seems to have cured it ..

[carrierbag]

We have had this every year for the past3/4 years. I have tried so many insecticides from all sorts of garden centres, even tried eco-friendly washing up liquid (got that from somewhere) but nothing has worked. It is back again, killing our hedges and now starting on our hibiscus. I think the hedging will be chopped down in the autumn...cannot deal with it year in and year out!!!!

[michelle3012]

My Mother in law gets these in Austria, soapy water (washing up liquid) draws them out of the ground then you have to hit them over the head with a spade, well that's what she does. Does the trick though!

[Lor51]

The ones that I have are not in the ground they are airborne. I am using a combination of Priban 4 1 tablespoon to 10 litres mixed with Backen 1 teaspoon to 10 litres. It dosent completely remove them but its doing a better job than just the Priban I used last year. I hose the hedge down first and then spray once a week, touch wood nothing drastic is happening.

[Owl Lady]

I used Fosforin M last year and it seemed to work until a couple of weeks ago and the gardener has sprayed again, not sure what with as I was not at home. will have to wait and see now!

[Hippocampus]

Thanks for all your replies. Will buy everything mentioned and fire the lot at them!

[Deniz1]

A flame thrower might work.

[Owl Lady]

Deniz1 be careful, some idiot on here may think that is a good idea!!!!

[kbasat]

well owllady, it turns out it is a very good idea, I have gotten rid of all the pests and it is hella fun at the same time... If anyone is interested in plans to make a flamethrower out of metal scraps, send me a pm.

[MikeK]

We took a cutting off our "Pakistani Nights" plant, complete with bug and the slimy white fluffy secretions it produces, to the garden shop opposite Mama Mia Pizza. He called it "cotton fly" he sold us Nivathion, to use diluted 2 tablespoons / 10 litres water and to spray twice a week, almost all cleared up fourth spraying due this week as plant was heavily infested.

[terry2366]

I agree Nivathion 60 ec is the best but would say 1 tablespoon for 10 litres once a week for about 4 weeks. This is what happens when we kill off natures remedy ie ladybirds they always kept them down.

[wedinnorthcyprus]

Changing the bug slightly but also very important, watch out for the nasty little bugs that are killing all the palms, we have been told from the forestry that they are very bad this year and spreading fast. You might not see them from the outside but if you suddenly get dried shoots coming out then that is a good indication your palm is infested.

[Hippocampus]

Presumeably you know this because you are infested (!). Did you find out what to do about it?

[wedinnorthcyprus]

Yes we have a date palm that is affected and that we are trying very hard to save. Spoken to a good friend who works for the forestry in Guzelyurt and he has advised us what chemicals to use but he also said that Lefke has lost so many palms this year.