FIGHTING INSECT PESTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 846, 14 December 1929, Page 34

FIGHTING INSECT PESTS

Mealy Bug. —Keep a sharp lookout on coleus, begonias, maiden hair and other ferns for these mealy-look-ing insects. Spraying should be carried out as soon as possible before the insects become too numerous Spray with tobacco water, nicotine sulphate, or black-leaf 40. Benzole emulsion, 1 in 5, i 3 also a good spray. Woodlice or Slaters, Snails and Slugs.—Continue using calcium arsenate baits. This treatment will soon destroy all these pests. Fern Thrips. —These very destructive insects are always active during the hot weather. Keep plants, especially ferns, well watered. When thrips are noticed, spraying the underside of leaves with tobacco water, nicotine sulphate, or black-leaf 40 will give good results. Fern Aphids.—These troublesome small plant lice are exceedingly plentiful this season on the young fronds of maiden hair. Spray with tobacco water. Palm, Aspidistra, Oleander, Fern, and Other Scales.—The young scales are now hatching. Spraying should be done at once. Use tobacco water nicotine sulphate or black-leaf 40. The starch spray should also be used. Cutworms. Cutworm caterpillars have been rather troublesome in the glass-house and fernery recently. Lately the second broods will probably be very numerous, judging from the large numbers of cutworm moths about. Spray plants with arsenate of lead. Use poisoned baits. Red Spider on Ferns. —During hot weather these mites do much damage to ferns, especially Lomarias ("fishbone ferns”). The undersides of the leaves are usually attacked and the leaves turn a sickly brown colour. Use tobacco sprays. Don’t let your plants become old and woody. If you find you have more lhan you can use at the time ready to pull, they should be gathered and bottled for future use.