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Constant Palm patrol . . .

Capnrey

By Capnrey
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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Capnrey Enthusiast

Capnrey

Posted
Posted

The paranoia has set in . . I'm on constant patrol every morning checking every palm for an invader. This morning I found this on my 8' multi trunk shade Kentia that I just bought (primarily for privacy screen). I'm assuming this is a 'mealysaurus' . I wonder if I put a lady bug next to it - who would win??

post-10438-0-60444700-1407429781_thumb.j

-REY

LJG Grand Master

LJG

Posted
Posted

Those are actually a type of Ladybug larvae. Google "Cryptolaemus montrouzieri larvae".

So don't kill them :)

Len

Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

Shadowridge Area

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

-- Alfred Austin

Capnrey Enthusiast

Capnrey

Posted
  • Author
Posted

NO! Learn something everyday. The bad news . .I killed it. The good news. . .I've got a good amount of lady bugs in the garden. Thanks!

-REY

Hammer Grand Master

Hammer

Posted
Posted

Doh! Ready, fire, aim!!! We've all been there.

LJG Grand Master

LJG

Posted
Posted

NO! Learn something everyday. The bad news . .I killed it. The good news. . .I've got a good amount of lady bugs in the garden. Thanks!

I have killed many myself before I knew. :)

Len

Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

Shadowridge Area

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

-- Alfred Austin

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Hi, Manta:

It's good to know you're on the alert.

I can't speak for Len or Hammer, but I almost never use insect killers on my palms or (my few) other plants. In general, insect predators do a better job of attacking the bugs you want to kill than we ever could. No motivation like fending off starvation.

Many times there are non-death solutions to insect problems. Once I had a bee colony take up residence in an upside-down 15-gallon pot, but I was able to get a guy to come and take them away and, presumably, re-home them.

That said, I've used bug killers where the insects posed harm to me or other people or pets, as when a yellow jacket ("Ground Hornet") colony took up residence in my garden. They attacked anyone who came near them, fiercely. Once or twice I treated ant colonies in potted palms that cultivated scale or aphids, but, usually, they don't pose a problem.

I would use insecticides if I ever thought a prized palm had an infestation of something like Red Palm Weevil.

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

NApalm Mentor

NApalm

Posted
Posted

Im with you dave. I rarely spray anything as I figure the predators will take out the pests (plus im super lazy, so we work well together). I recently lost a Dypsis faneva due to scale which I was going to spray 'tomorrow'. I try and introduce structures that predators will enjoy and make themselves at home. Like a pond to attract dragonflies to clean up mosquitoes from the bromeliads. That kind of thing. They all work in harmony. Now lets hold hands and sing coombiyah!

WestCoastGal Grand Master

WestCoastGal

Posted
Posted

Mantarey, appreciated your post and excellent photo that caught my attention because it looked so strange. Thanks to this thread we learned something ourselves as well, and did a little online research since we now had a name to look up. DH said he knows he's seen this insect around our yard in both the larvae and adult stage. Those fuzzy white spikes on it are memorable to say the least. We'll now be taking a closer look at white fuzz in the future to determine mealybug or destroyer. Great thread!

And we are big fans of lady bugs in general. Love that this variety is a voracious devourer of mealybugs, regardless of its stage in life. Very cool. There's also a kind of catapiller stage once the eggs hatch that people should learn to recognize so as not to kill it as well.

A recent attack of scale on our sago introduced us to the wonders of coffee grounds and coffee "sun tea". Works wonders. Love employing these non-toxic methods of control and erradication.

Zone 9b (formerly listed as Zone 9a); Sunset 14

Capnrey Enthusiast

Capnrey

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

A recent attack of scale on our sago introduced us to the wonders of coffee grounds and coffee "sun tea". Works wonders. Love employing these non-toxic methods of control and erradication.

I'm battling scale on my front yard Kentia . I "husked" it last week to discover the invasion. On my palm doctors' advise, I scrubbed them off with a cleaning brush (keeping the trunk tissue unharmed) and yeah . . I did a Bayer 3-1 application with the garden spray hose deal. Yesterday, I noticed some more (probably eggs that hatched) and will just scrub again. I'm hoping I don't have to do another spray next month. I am using coffee grounds on my front yard sagas as well. I don't know about using coffee grounds on palms though . . .

I'm holding off on any spraying in the backyard grove, since I did release lady bugs last month and they're still hangin' out. My only issue in the back right now is a tepelijote group that is showing traces of black soot , but no mealies. So I'm cleaning off the soot everyday that I see it and holding back on watering for now. What else do you do without spraying it or applying a systemic solution?

I've got a lot of $ invested in this new endeavor and I don't want to get my husband pissed if I let something get away from me - which is why I'm on such an aggressive mission right now. And I yet have so much to learn.

In the meantime, my backyard macrocarpa is opening a new red! This is one that got burned in May along with the Hedescepe and those weird fungus buttons were appearing below it.

post-10438-0-71097700-1407526102_thumb.j

Edited by Mantarey

-REY

JT in Japan Experienced

JT in Japan

Posted
Posted

The paranoia has set in . . I'm on constant patrol every morning checking every palm for an invader. This morning I found this on my 8' multi trunk shade Kentia that I just bought (primarily for privacy screen). I'm assuming this is a 'mealysaurus' . I wonder if I put a lady bug next to it - who would win??

attachicon.gifMealy??.jpg

How about a picture of the entire palm? I'd like to see your multi-trunks. I'm trying to get a kentia or two for the front yard but everyone is sold out.

JT

Shimoda, Japan, Lat: 36.6N, Long: 138.8

Zone 9B (kinda, sorta), Pacific Coast, 1Km inland, 75M above sea level
Coldest lows (Jan): 2-5C (35-41F), Hottest highs (Aug): 32-33C (87-91F)

BS Man about Palms Grand Master

BS Man about Palms

Posted
Posted

Those are actually a type of Ladybug larvae. Google "Cryptolaemus montrouzieri larvae".

So don't kill them :)

I thought that was a mealybug...? Are they not bad?

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

Tyrone Grand Master

Tyrone

Posted
Posted

Most palms can tolerate a certain level of offending insect damage. If you want a completely zero tolerance garden you'll have to use pesticides and you will be killing beneficials and the like and probably end up with more problems than you started out with. Obviously a palm covered in scale shouldn't be ignored, but treat the scale infestation as if something is wrong with the plant to begin with. Generally insects can detect the weak individual and invade that one. Increase the plants vigour with the use of correct nutrition and the insect damage should drop off.

The same is true of fungicides. Sometimes you will need to use them. But using them on a large scale will kill off beneficial fungi in the soil, and they may never come back again.

Millbrook, "Kinjarling" Noongar word meaning "Place of Rain", Rainbow Coast, Western Australia 35S. Warm temperate. Csb Koeppen Climate classification. Cool nights all year round.

 

 

Capnrey Enthusiast

Capnrey

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

How about a picture of the entire palm? I'd like to see your multi-trunks. I'm trying to get a kentia or two for the front yard but everyone is sold out.

JT

The first pic is the day it got delivered - back in late 2009.

post-10438-0-48201600-1407868924.jpg

post-10438-0-70790700-1407868580_thumb.j

Edited by Mantarey

-REY

Gonzer Grand Master

Gonzer

Posted
Posted

The mealybug destroyer looks identical also.

 

 

kahili Experienced

kahili

Posted
Posted

You can use horticultural oil for the scale and other pests. Its cheap and not harmful to the environment, but you have to have contact with the pest (unlike systemics) and reapply a few times

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