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African Violetsare one of the most popular pocket-sized indoor plants that make beautiful blossom . They can also be grow outdoors , reckon on the climate .
Their common name originates from their seeming likeness to real violets . Their botanical name is Saintpaulia .
Mealybug up close feed on African Violet plants | Alexey Protasov -Adobe
African Violets gained popularity for several reason :
Like most plants found in nature , they have louse pests and disease issues . One of the more coarse pest issues found in African Violet is mealybugs . as luck would have it , this is easily treatable .
More onWhat Kills mealy bug
African Violets and Mealybugs
Mealybugs come to to a group of small insects that feed off of the sap of plants . They are notoriously found in house plants and range in size of it from 1/16″ to 1/4″ inch .
The granular microbe themselves are cover in a white , gluey , powder - like substance and feed off plants ’ leaves or foliage stems .
The mealybug ’s viscous finish tends to leave an light lead to identify them on an African Violet . Here are a few things to look for :
If your plant has any of these symptoms , sequester it immediately to keep off spreading mealybugs to other plants . Once isolated , follow a proper treatment establish on your plague grade .
The most common coarse-grained hemipteron assault the African Violet are :
What Damage Do Mealybugs Cause To An African Violet
An African Violet with a mealybug infestation display stunt ontogenesis and/or tinge leaf shapes .
If the infestation continues to develop , it can ultimately go to plant death , so you must treat it as shortly as you see it .
Related : African Violet Leaves sprain Yellow ? reason Why !
How to Treat a Mealybug Infestation
Before cover your African Violet , key the severity of your mealybug infestation .
Treating a Minor Mealybug Infestation
For a minor plague , handle with household rubbing alcoholic drink ( 70 % isopropyl alcohol ) .
Treating a Major Mealybug Infestation
If you have a more monolithic infestation , a systemic insecticide label for African Violet plant may be expect .
Here are a couple of options , but be untrusting as the plants themselves can be sensitive to chemical substance :
Repeat whichever insecticide treatment every four or five days until the mealybug infestation is gone .
With all pesticides , follow the producer ’s recording label directions . bankruptcy to do so could result in hurt to your plant and even ill wellness .
Alternative Mealybug Treatments
One alternative to traditional chemic treatment of intemperate mealybug infestations is Neem ( Azadirachtin).Neem oil is an organic insecticidethat come from the seed of the Neem Tree .
Neem works on African Violets by making the leave and stems unpalatable to mealybugs . If you like a rude pest result , Neem is an excellent alternative that is non - toxic to human .
Mealybug Prevention Methods
audit new plants when bring in them home to ward off African Violet mealybug infestation . Be certain to check up on the entire plant life and the pot for insects and mealybug eggs .
NOTE : African Violet plants are also attacked by soil mealybugs enshroud just below the soil aerofoil . If water from below , take an extra arrest forsoil mealybug infestations .
Mealybugs can be toughened to get free of ; being proactive is always in your upright interest .
Even when hear to prevent mealybug infestations , they may still find a style to your plant . Check your plants often to catch an plague too soon .
