CONTROL OF INSECTS ON HOUSE PLANTS 



Insects can be controlled on your house plants. There is a control 

 measure that will keep in check and eliminate every bug, with the ex- 

 ception of some mites. Some practices are helpful in controlling all 

 house-plant insects. 



General Control Measures 



1. Quarantine of new plants until they are proved to be free from 

 insects 



2. Isolation of any plants that begin to show signs of insects and 

 removing them to a cooler temperature 



3. Never placing cut flowers in close proximity to house plants or 

 to the window garden 



4. Regular washing with a jet or fine spray of lukewarm water 



Some plants may not be washed without injury to the foliage but 

 these are few. The principal damages that washing may possibly cause 

 under dry home conditions are mechanical injury and breaking of the 

 plant or leaves. If a plant is not extremely fragile, it will enjoy a regular 

 weekly bath. 



A mere dipping of plants in water will be of little value in elimina- 

 ting bugs. When water is applied under pressure, it is often possible to 

 wash off many of the insects, their eggs or other stages. With each suc- 

 ceeding bath the insects become fewer until they have finally been elimi- 

 nated entirely. The removal of dust during washing improves the 

 plant's appearance, if not its general health. 



Fig. 5a (left) — The adult mealybug is about 54 inch long 

 Fig. 5b — (right) — The mealybug tends to form colonies 



Mealybug 



The mature bug is about !4 inch long, oval in shape and covered 

 with white waxy powder. Its body is also covered with numerous hair- 

 like projections. iMature adults move about freely until ready to lay 

 eggs, at which time they spin a cottony mass and' deposit from 300 to 

 500 eggs. 



Mealybugs do not produce a winged stage, but they may spread from 

 plant to plant by contact, or they may get on clean "plants from dirty 



Nine 



