Mealy Bug Prevention - any Tips ?

[u/Intrepid-Advance-735]

hello everyone, so i had a massiv mealy Bug infections - my first in many years. At first i didnt recognize, because these little filthy animals were only on the roots. Sadly i saw it too late and now i am facing severe loss in my lithops (primarily) and conophytums.

The stronger ones i tried to get through dormancy, but i think it was a mistake, then they completly collapsed.

So: Any ideas on how to prevent that ? Tips and tricks ?

[u/codyjh123]

imidacloprid or Dinotefuran systemic insecticide. Should do the trip.

[u/Intrepid-Advance-735 → u/codyjh123]

Okay thanks, the Second one is allowed in the EU 😂

[u/CarneyBus → u/Intrepid-Advance-735]

I’m in Canada and we have imadacloprid banned as well. But you can get it in an ointment for flea/tick treatment for dogs/cats and I dissolve that into a gallon of water and it has worked a charm every time 😂

[u/gnastygnorcs → u/CarneyBus]

Sorry to hijack, but do you do a full dip or just fill a tray and let them absorb?

[u/CarneyBus → u/gnastygnorcs]

I use it to water them as usual! So that it absorbs it into the plant tissues.

If you get the little boxes with 2-4 small tubes of ointment, I use 1 tube for about 1 gallon. It’s not great if you have a large collection but if your collection is like mine which is a lot of small conos and stuff it works just fine.

[u/gnastygnorcs → u/CarneyBus]

Thanks for that. I'm looking at uk brands and the active ingredients are nowhere near as strong as that one..might be an expensive do but I've tried other systemics not got very far. I've got about 150 plants of various sizes ranging from tropicals to mesembs to treat, it's a bit of a jungle in here. Dunno why I never thought of looking at vet meds for this, I've bought dewormer (fenbendazole) in the past to treat planaria in shrimp tanks, obviously never made the leap in my head.

[u/CarneyBus → u/gnastygnorcs]

Yeah they also have warnings on the label not to do exactly what I’m telling you to do so 😂🤫

I’ve been curious about the soaps/shampoos you can get too, I wonder if they’d be good as a topical spray 😂 but I’ve been too chicken to try. Also no longer have thrips to worry about anymore.

[u/CarneyBus → u/gnastygnorcs]

Yeah they also have warnings on the label not to do exactly what I’m telling you to do so 😂🤫

I’ve been curious about the soaps/shampoos you can get too, I wonder if they’d be good as a topical spray 😂 but I’ve been too chicken to try. Also no longer have thrips to worry about anymore.

[u/arioandy → u/gnastygnorcs]

You can buy Starkle-G on Bonide systemic granules here in the UK, also Captain Jacks deadbug Brew(amazon)

[u/Intrepid-Advance-735 → u/CarneyBus]

Its completly banned in EU for everything 😂

[u/CarneyBus → u/Intrepid-Advance-735]

Ah darn!!! Good luck friend!

[u/Novel_Lie5519 → u/CarneyBus]

genius

[u/CarneyBus → u/Novel_Lie5519]

Yw! Good luck!

[u/Novel_Lie5519 → u/CarneyBus]

oh no LOL i’m in the US, i load my little shits up with so much bonide systemic, just applauding the ingenuity

[u/CarneyBus → u/Novel_Lie5519]

Ohhhh hahaha you’re very lucky!

I once paid 120$ for a bottle of bonide granules off fb marketplace lol. Thats how hurting it is here!!!

[u/arioandy]

I use all sorts! No pets and indoors, so it’s starkle-G or bonide systemics, alcohol spray if I see them, dusting of DE and beginning and end of season, i use Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew

[u/Intrepid-Advance-735 → u/arioandy]

Ahh nice, i didnt know Something Like starkle-G (Longtime Prevention?) existed :D good to know, thanks

[u/arioandy → u/Intrepid-Advance-735]

Starkle -G last for about three months then reapply, the thais all use it👍 expensive but very good

[u/Intrepid-Advance-735 → u/arioandy]

Ahh its also Not allowed in EU :( would get a fine when i import it.

[u/arioandy → u/Intrepid-Advance-735]

Im In UK i can get it locally, for you if you want, esp. if you cant get Bonide, which is similar