The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....

[edwardyeeks]

Hello everyone, Edward here........I was wondering which is the best insecticide for CPs to counterattack scale, mealybug, aphids, etc.etc. After Aaron told me of his stevensii under scale attack, I was really scared of my CPs getting infected. So far none of my plants have been infected, but I have to take precaution. Does anyone know what is the best insecticide to fight of the irritating pest that might someday attack my CPs????? And where to get them in Malaysia....lol.

Cheers

[David]

For me if the pest infection is not that great I use waterbase mosquito/cocroach arrosol, ie. waterbase Mortein, Ridsect, etc. Seem to work and do not affect my CPs, particularly Neps at all.

Try to get systematic insecticide in powder form. Used it once before and it worked.

[edwardyeeks]

Well, I went to some nurseries and all they sell is insecticide for ants adn grasshoppers. Annoying really when I ask the people for insecticide for aphids and they stare at me blankly.

cheers

[David]

Try asking in garden centers like Ace Harware shop etc. At least the staff there speaks english or Bahasa Malaysia.

Just try waterbase arosol first. It is safe for your plants and family too. I just use this as I am living in an apartment. Don't want poisonous substance to be on the leaves of my plants in the house.

Alternatively you can try some natural remedy in this article but be careful with some of the substance as CPs might not take too well to them if the entire plant is subject to it.

[plantlover]

I just spray the plant infected area with very toxic pesticide and then wash it instantly. Got rid of the stupid scales but the sarra left 4 leaves. Plenty of roots though.

[edwardyeeks]

Well, currently, I am using the hand method. As in I lightly rub the surfaces of the leaves carefully to get rid of dirt and perhaps some pests. How about fungus? Any fungicide will do, right?

As for the ladybug, I don't wanna talk about it. I caught one behind my condo last month and put it on my s.purpurea to test for aphids. Not more than five minutes later I saw it struggling in one of the pitcher. Saved it and put it on the soil of my sarra pot but 10 minutes later it was in another pitcher. Didn't bother saving it.

So practically speaking, a light spray of sheildtox on any CPs will help kill the pest?

Cheers

[plantlover]

I submerge my whole purpurea for a few minutes. It got infected too but still early stage. No insecticide used. Only washing, Drowning and scraping the plant.

[edwardyeeks]

Originally Posted by plantlover

I submerge my whole purpurea for a few minutes. It got infected too but still early stage. No insecticide used. Only washing, Drowning and scraping the plant.

Your poor purpurea.......why must it suffer like this? Why so serious, Aaron?

Cheers

[plantlover]

Never mind lah. Only few minutes mah. I thought they sometimes grow in waterlogged soil. Scrapping the bugs only not hurt the plant. I wash the roots and pitchers underwater. No harm.

[arvin555]

Or if you like to make it hard for yourself do what I just did yesterday.

Got a plastic up and some cotton buds (cotton swabs) put a bit of water and drop of dishwashing soap and put a drop of Malathaion or as David suggested you can use water based insecticide (ones for mosquitos and ****roaches) if you are using a spray, then spray some into the plastic cup and then put a bit of water and soap or just use the pure liquid from the spray.

Soak the cotton buds in the liquid and dab the scale insects with it, one by one.

That is what I did, I hate the smell of Malathaion, really bad, but I hope it works. If not I will really try what Dave tried with hose hold water based insecticide.

This is the same plant that I tried with just soap and dishwashing liquid, after a few months scale insects are back. I understand that ants are the ones that actually put them there in the first place, but I feel that the ants are food for the pitchers. My sarracenia Leucophyllia is the one that is infected.

TTFN
Arvin