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FUZZY BUG !!

33eljay339842733eljay3398427 Posts: 5
in The potting shed
Can anybody tell me what the white fluffy growth is on my indoor plants.It appears mostly on the leaf joins but also on the leaves. I have tried the usual sprays with little effect,so wonder if anybody has any ideas. Thank you

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The only bugs I know that look like that are wooly aphids, but I've never had them on houseplants - plenty on my apple trees 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • 33eljay339842733eljay3398427 Posts: 5
    That was my thoughts but can`t seem to shift them .Thanks anyway
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Only other thing that springs to mind is scale insects.
    I can see little brown spots here and there, but not sharp enough to determine if it spots of necrosis or scale insect shells

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • 33eljay339842733eljay3398427 Posts: 5
    No i don`t think it is scale insects.The marks you can see are just brown marks.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Woolly aphids. We have had a lot of problems with this on our indoor insectivorous plants this year for the first time ever. We also had it on our Hoya carnosa but we were able to remove it a lot easier than the insectivorous plants. We used cotton buds to try and get into the nooks and crannies but so difficult. Used soapy water first as we don't like using chemicals but not much joy so we had to resort to methylated spirits. This did work very well on Hoya but not so great on the other plants. We have cut back the really bad sections and hope that new growth in the Spring wont have a problem.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Could be mealybugs? Scroll down to number 3 on this page and see if it looks like what you've got. It's an American site so the treatments they mention might not be available or recommended here (assuming you're in the UK) but I think the picture is nice and clear.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @JennyJ Sorry I think you are right and it is mealy bug not woolly aphid.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    If you wanted to take the predator route there are these little chaps / chapesses that look a bit like the very thing they eat.
    https://www.dragonfli.co.uk/products/mealybug-predator-larvae-cryptolaemus-montrouzieri

    They will have a go at mealy bugs and scale insect too.

    Although it may seem a little expensive?  I think from the link they stay around and close to the food supply and eat them at more than one stage.

    I don't know if you can keep them from year to year.

    :disappointed:
    See video in above link, ( no affiliation just first that came up in search with a vid.)
    They are very cute..... Only my opinion :) Other opinions are available :D

  • 33eljay339842733eljay3398427 Posts: 5
    Thank you all for your advice and i too think it is mealybugs so will try what you have suggested.
  • 33eljay339842733eljay3398427 Posts: 5
    @JennyJ I think you have hit the nail on the head so thanks. By the way,small world, i`m just the other side of Retford to you and have the same type of soil as yours.
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