mealy bugs on roots

[nealweb]

Hello everyone.

I just found some mealy bug on the roots of a nursery purchase. A friend told me that you can soak the roots in confidor. Is that true? Any other suggestions? I did spray the top already with a systemic bug-icide. Would that have much effect on critters on the roots? Its an azalea if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for any advice you have!

neal.

[Jamie]

never seen Meally bugs in the root systems before mate, but thats not to say it couldnt happen, after all they are a larvae type stage of a bug. one would think that the systemic will work aslong as it gets to the bugs that are in the roots, is there actually any damage? a contact spray i am not sure would be good either as you wouldnt be able to stop the tree from taking it up aswell. bare rooting might have to be considered, thats what I would do as a last resort anyways mate

[rowan]

I've seen root mealy bugs many times, it is usually if the soil gets too dry a lot, or goes from too wet to too dry. It is not usual in bonsai as you are more in tune with the soil and watering. A systemic insecticide should work, or the Confidor as well.
The remedies will work but it might be a good idea to repot later in a more suitable mix.

[Mitchell]

I take it you mean Curl grubs? The big fat white ones?

If so, the confidor is for lawns, for some reason they don't advise use in pots. Try the powders, you need to do them twice, as none of the ones in Buzzing kill the juvenile stage of the grub only when it is grown. Once now, then again in a few months.
Last case I had I went for the complete bare root and removal instead of the powders.


Edit- OK, you were probably meaning mealy bugs... I believe the powders also do mealy.

[rowan]

Curl grubs are entirely different. At least they can easily be picked out of the soil during repotting. Mealy bugs sort of stick to the roots as they feed and are exactly like mealy bugs that occur on foliage.
Here is a page about them and control methods: http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/rep ... mealyb.htm
On bonsai: htt[url]p://www.bonsaimary.com/mealy-bugs.html[/url]

[nealweb]

Thanks everyone, I'm pretty sure they are mealy's, little white hairy fella's. Its a pot plant at the moment, not yet a bonsai. I will probably do a bare root repot into kanuma but i will also go and read the packet of confidor in B$##%^&s and scan the shelves too because I got a few plants and I might want to dunk them all. They have taken some bark off the roots, and also left holes in the mix, this may have been ants too.

cheers

n.

[Jamie]

hi mate,

I dont reckon the ants would strip bark of the roots, that would be the grubs/bugs/mealy. the ants could possibly be using the tracks that have been left by the bugs

[nealweb]

Yeah i think the ants make tunnels and carry the bugs around and then they chew the roots. Bunnings reckons the systemics will get them when they suck on the plant but don't soak it. A nurseryman told me to get some lebaycid and drench the roots. The hot water sounds interesting, thanks for the thread rowan, not sure about soaking my tree in hot water but atleast its not toxic i guess...

n.