cycad butterfly/moth

[gollum]

right now my cycads are bursting out in glorious new leaf

the last couple of years they were decimated by the cycad butterfly/moth

after trying pest oil (ineffective)
malathon ( quite toxic and burns new foliage)
soapy water (ineffective)

I started using
success naturalyte

it works
it doesn't burn the foliage and its very environmentally safe

so ... a lot of people have asked me how do you stop your cycads getting eaten ....


and I now use success on my bonsai and garden where I see catepillars etc


I would be interested to know about anyone elses experience or applications using this

are there and plants that will suffer from it ???

it is a natural extract from dissolved bio something ... metabolites etc so all good
apart from being toxic to (foraging) bees and aquatic invertebrates

It also says don't use when shade temps are over 28,
anyone know why ?
I searched and think it might be because it means many insects stop feeding when temps get over 28... ?
has anyone heard of this ???

[MattA]

Not heard of the product so cant help with any of your questions... I also have no idea what these pests look like, can you post a pic of them?

I have a couple of cycads & they have never been affected by anything except scale, tho I do have one that has stubbornly refused to put out new leaves for the last 2 seasons

[gollum]

don't have pics sorry but they are fat & oval, brown or green ...pics can be found online

I think they are not down your way yet but they may well end up there

I read that 3 seasons without new growth spells the end for the cycad....
maybe some light ferts like b&b will trigger it

my continued use of success is going well,no signs of soft new growth getting eaten
and up here in bris there is usually many other things eating any new growth on everything

I was worried the temp would fry the new leaves but today was hot like yesterday and the leaves look fine
(the bottle said do not use when shade temps exceed 28)