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Total mealy bug eradication?
ShirleyP
Posts: 12
Has anyone managed to completely eradicate mealy bugs? I have an infestation in the conservatory, worst affected are olive tree, cacti and orchids (esp. Vandas). I drench them in bug killer that says it kills mealies, and drench the soil as well, clean down all the surfaces they may be lurking (I found some nesting in a pewter ornament!). But a couple of months later, back they come. And now I've found some in the dracaena in the living room and it hasn't had any contact with the conservatory plants. has anyone found a permanent solution, or do I just have to accept I'll have to keep spraying for ever?!
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I have problems with mealies on my cacti in my greenhouse. I have tried Provado Ultimate Bug Killer, Neem Oil and Provado Vine Weevil killer, with disappointing results. Recently I saw a recommendation for Bi 58 spray. This is banned in the UK but you can get it from Germany via Ebay (delivery is very fast). It is rather early to say but it has killed the visible bugs so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
I haven't eradicated them but I have reduced them a lot by cutting back affected plants ( my worst have been plumbago and hoya) and painting the bugs and likely looking leaf axils with methylated spirit. I have been doing this for several years and there is definitely a lot less. I agree that spraying gives disappointing results.
Thanks for the answers. I've been using Bug Clear Ultra and it's great for killing off the current infestation, but they always come back. Think I'll have a blitz in the spring (too late this year for the cacti) and take everything out of pots and dunk in water mixed with Bug Clear to see if that will clear the hidden ones. Alan - would be interested to hear later on whether the Bi 58 gives you a more permanent solution.
Even when they've all gone, they'll come back eventually. They must have come from somewhere in the first place!
Shirley p, I will try to remember to report back.
As for where they came from, I expect mine came in with plants that I bought at some time. I should have kept them in quarantine for a while!