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Post by mabudon on Dec 8, 2006 9:45:12 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure the thing won't be causing any problems now that it has been eaten by my huge D.coccicaulis BUT I had to bring this up here just to see if anyone knows what the thing was... I got some gemmae a few days ago from another member here, aswell as a couple pots of half-dead Sarrs which had been outside in a "pond" all summer- being thrifty, I repotted the Sarrs in my bog garden and tooke the remaining medium, rinsed it out a bit and re-used it for the pygmies (I tell this part of the story so you know that this thing didn't just pop up in my collection, I MUST have brought it in from outside) Anyways, I went to mist them a day or two later and noticed something that looked like a little transparent red "knot" or something sitting in the centre of the pot, really brilliant red colour when I sprayed the mist, the "knot" went nuts- it was some kind of "worm", almost 1" (2.5 cm) long, and it was REALLY wiggly- it kinda looked like the mist was burning it- it moved SO much it kinda spooked me for a sec.. anyways I dug heem out and fed him to my stickies, but I was wondering- any idea what it was?? it was much larger than a fungus gnat larva, I could almost see a "head" on it.. Anyone ever see such an ugly thing in their collections?? and should I expect more of them?? I hope not, the thing was truly spooky lookin
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Post by insectivore on Dec 8, 2006 10:16:32 GMT -5
Hey! I've never heard of it but its funny that you bring the subject up because I was in my mini-greenhouse yesterday and spoted I don't know if its mite or thrips on my highland neps I'm going to spray some either Dazinon or Malathion(sp?) in the entired greenhouse...hopefully my pings and dews wont get to afected what do you guys think? Thanks! Cya
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Post by mabudon on Dec 8, 2006 10:39:15 GMT -5
Well, wait for Jay on that one, he is pretty good with the "industrial strength" stuff and will be able to give you a good idea of how safe your idea is- I sure hope you can eradicate the problem tho man!
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Post by tom on Dec 8, 2006 11:30:55 GMT -5
Insectivore: if the critters are long and narrow (about 1mm long), brown-beige to black in color and seem to have a part of their body stuck in the leaf, you got thrips. But if they are more spider-like and a bit smaller, often a pale rusty-red in color (depending on the species), you have mites.
I urge you to try a safer product for your spraying, such as End-All, or even a homemade insecticide made of dishwasher soap. Diazinon and Malathion are 2 very strong and dangerous insecticides, both for insects and man, and this caution strongly apply since your greenhouse appear to be in yur living room: fumes and pesticide trace can harm people in your house, dont use it indoor, and read the label entirely. I sucessfully controlled thrips and mites with either end-all or homemade insecticide, dont put your health at risk...
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Post by jay on Dec 8, 2006 11:41:23 GMT -5
Its a blood worm from the pond don't worry its harmless , but check for pill bugs or slugs they will do a number on small plants
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Post by lloyd on Dec 8, 2006 14:00:19 GMT -5
I used to often see what looked like thrips on my Sarr's. I found the Neem spray kept them under control and didn't bother the Sarr's.
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Post by jay on Dec 8, 2006 15:25:23 GMT -5
Flea collars work really well at repelling thrip, just don't let it come in contact with the water or use yellow sticky cards, like fly paper but the trip is at tracked to the yellow color , if your going to use either of the sprays you suggested . Spray your plants in an area away from your house, that well vented and wear a respirator and rubber gloves ... like outside or a shed , leave the plants for about 4 days while the chemicals take effect. The chemicals are strong smelling and are dangerous as tom said , best way to prevent thrip or spider mite is to make sure the plants are clean coming into your growing space.....don't bring home unwanted house guests , inspect the plants before hand.
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Post by funkytechnician on Dec 8, 2006 15:50:36 GMT -5
best way to prevent thrip or spider mite is to make sure the plants are clean coming into your growing space.....don't bring home unwanted house guests , inspect the plants before hand. thats some of the best advice ever, 3 times I have accidently introduced harmful pests from new plants into my grow op., and cursed myself for not checking for bugs and being to horny to get the plants rooted and established so I could stare at them lol
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Post by insectivore on Dec 8, 2006 19:39:10 GMT -5
Thanks for your replies guys! Is End-All made by safers good for all nepenthes, droseras and pinguiculas? Because I'm going to do the entire mini-greenhouse... Thanks ahead guys! Cya
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Post by tom on Dec 8, 2006 22:20:25 GMT -5
You can read my 'testimonial' in the general discussion section I think, but here is a resume:
I treated a few time my entire collection (mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenia, Dionaea Heliamphora, both highland and lowland Nepenthes, Drosera, epiphytic Utricularia and terrestrial ones, without any ill effect, but I did mix the End-All along the recommandations written on the label + adding a capful of rubbing alcohol in my sprayer (1.5 L). No ill effect so far, but Drosera lost their dew. Remember that one treatment isn't likely to end your infestation, especially with thrips. Repeat 1-2 weeks after, and keep an eye open; eradiction isn't easy to get, even with the stronger chemical stuff, but a nice control is easier to achieve.
In case of doubt and since one trick might not work in every collection, try it on 1 plant/genus or just on a plant's section (ie one leaf) and wait a few days (1 week) to see if there is anything bad happening. Try not to do your spraying during the evening/when the light are out, ideally the leaves should have the time to dry out before darkness.
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Post by insectivore on Dec 9, 2006 22:38:58 GMT -5
I haven't treated anything yet because I wanted to give you a breif description of what this looks like so you guys can give me a proper treatment... Its very small bugs like pepper barely visible, they look round they move very slow... Do you think its mites? Thats the only possibility I can see but there not red... Thanks ahead! P.S. Do you think end all is good for that? Cya
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Post by lloyd on Dec 9, 2006 22:43:42 GMT -5
Try using a magnifying lens to see what they look like.
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Post by insectivore on Dec 10, 2006 20:56:24 GMT -5
Alright so my mom said it was Spider Mites... So I sprayed them with end all and some rubbing alcohol like Tom said and I will let you know how the results turn out! only my highland Neps had some but I sprayed all my neps period... Do you think I should spray all the other plants too? Thanks guys for your support! Cya
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Post by lloyd on Dec 10, 2006 21:36:49 GMT -5
I posted Al Bickell's Neem recipe on the board somewhere. The lower strength is fine and the eucalyptus oil in his formulation is supposed to drive spider mites crazy. Usually spider mites only attack if the humidity is low and the temperature is high.
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Post by insectivore on Dec 10, 2006 22:38:17 GMT -5
Thats is accualy contrary of what it is... High humidity and Low temps... O well I guess there's a first for evrything! Cya
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