A SHORT COURSE IN INDOOR PLANT PESTS--PART I

Have you recently brought houseplants that were summered outside inside for the winter? Did you find a fantastic plant you just had to buy at your favorite nursery? If you answered yes to either of these questions you may have invited some unwanted critters into your home! This month,, let's take a look at some common insect pests of both indoor and outdoor plants.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Since I don't believe in spraying pesticides inside my home (and rarely outside), I'd like to suggest these items for your fight against the pests we'll talk about.
Magnifying glass
Alcohol and cotton tipped swabs
Insecticidal soap (or make your own with a little dish soap in a quart of water)
Granulated systemic pesticide--the kind you mix with the soil

APHIDS

Aphids are sometimes called plant lice. There are many species of aphids with each species feeding on a certain plant family. Aphids have a soft body, are slow moving and come in a variety of colors--often closely matching the plant they feed on. Aphids can reproduce through eggs and/or live births without going through the mating process. You will seldom find just a single aphid since they live in colonies.

Aphids suck the juices from the succulent portions of the plant. This sucking action can transmit viruses from plant to plant. The chief symptom you will notice is the curling or other distortion of leaves and possibly poorly formed flower buds. If you see this, get out your magnifying glass and check for this pest! The aphids secrete a honeydew that attracts ants.

A good "cure" for aphids is to wash the plant off under a stream of water. Ladybug beetles feast on aphids but most people wouldn't want these beetles living in their house. After washing the plant, check to be sure the aphids are gone or they will spread again very rapidly.

MEALYBUGS

Mealybugs have a soft, oval shaped body. You may be able to see the legs if you inspect carefully. Their skin is covered with threads of waxy powder that looks like fluffy cotton. This powder makes them almost immune to insect sprays. You may notice bits of "cotton" on your plants. If so, it's time to do a careful inspection with a magnifying glass.

Mealybugs siphon sap from the plants. They are spread from plant to plant by the wind (indoor fan) and ants. Ants frequent their colonies for the honeydew produced by the mealybugs. The main symptom of this pest's presence is the wilting or yellowing of leaves in the presence of white cottony masses or the sticky honeydew on the plant leaves.

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