I was wondering why my thriving elephant bush suddenly started yellowing…
And upon inspection I discovered a huuuuge colony of these little hellish creatures (mealybugs?). There's also plenty of ants who seems very interested in them.
I see white specs I'm really concerned might be thrips, and scaly things on the leaves… Or is it me getting paranoid?
Please help me save my big lady!
Ps: I have a monstera deliciosa, a monkey mask and a basil plant nearby affected by fungus gnats and I placed sticky traps in the pots… I'm afraid them might kill a couple of ladybugs I spotted.
What a terrible season beginning 😢
Watering for the elephant bush: in winter almost never, it gets rain, in summer maybe every two weeks.
Light : outdoors, sun all day until the last couple hours before sunset.
by sneboj
7 Comments
I think I see scale
The first picture gave shivers down my spine
the ants rush for the rescue i guess
Mealybugs and Scale
I don’t see any definite sign of Thrips
Side note: I love the ants. 🐜 They are likely feeding on the honeydew the mealybugs produce.
time to bring in the ladybugs
No pesticide I’ve ever used has been effective against these, so now I just blast them with brake cleaner.
Jet wash them suckers off and spray with Capn Jacks Dead Bug.