Pitaya pest..

alpha010 · 03-28-2009, 08:09 AM

I have a habit of checking my new plants in the house 2 times a day for the first monh or so for possible "extra cargo" that could have came in with the shipment. So, following my routine, I checked my DC, looked good, checked my newest addition of purple passion plant, nothing unusual there, check my pineapple, stressed but pest free. Lastly, I checked my 4 pots of pitaya, well, last few days I have been picking aphids off of it (first noticed on tuesday as 3 small groups congregating on 3 new growth areas which were dealt with with a vengeance) and each day since wednesday there have only been maybe 1 or 2 a day on them and were removed. BUT, lo-and-behold, checked them last night before bed and all was well, got up this morning and one new growth tip (just happened to be the one growing the best so far too) was almost completely severed all the way through. And, the cut was pretty fresh.
So, from there I proceded to check all my plants thoroughly and the room for that matter (i.e. floor, tables, chairs, everything) for any signs of anything.......come up with nothing.
Any ideas as to what might be doing this to my cacti?
Side note* other than aphids, I found 1 larvae of something, not sure what it was but I killed it. The larvae was roughly 3-5 mm long, less than 1 mm thick, very slender white with a black head, and spins silk. It looked like a super tiny white inch worm. It was very hard to see and the only reason I found it was I thought it's head was an aphid on an area of white scar-tissue.

Shaggy

Chironex · 04-12-2009, 04:13 AM

Hard to say.

lorax · 04-12-2009, 10:50 AM

Sounds like a cutworm. Keep looking for those little buggers, and give the Pitahaya a good spraying with insecticidal soap.

Richard · 04-12-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

Sounds like a cutworm. Keep looking for those little buggers, and give the Pitahaya a good spraying with insecticidal soap.

Yes. In Ohio, I believe you can purchase the bacterial agent BT. It's very effective on larvae. Another agent which is also available in the western U.S. is Spinosad, bottled by Green Light or Monterey Garden products.

alpha010 · 04-12-2009, 11:28 AM

Thanks guys, i'll give those a try.

Shaggy

03-28-2009, 08:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
alpha010 Metal Nanners!! alpha010 's Photo Gallery Location: Mineral Ridge, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 on arborday 5b on USDA Name: Bob aka Shaggy Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 470 BananaBucks : 141,097 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 121 Times Was Thanked 238 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Pitaya pest.. I have a habit of checking my new plants in the house 2 times a day for the first monh or so for possible "extra cargo" that could have came in with the shipment. So, following my routine, I checked my DC, looked good, checked my newest addition of purple passion plant, nothing unusual there, check my pineapple, stressed but pest free. Lastly, I checked my 4 pots of pitaya, well, last few days I have been picking aphids off of it (first noticed on tuesday as 3 small groups congregating on 3 new growth areas which were dealt with with a vengeance) and each day since wednesday there have only been maybe 1 or 2 a day on them and were removed. BUT, lo-and-behold, checked them last night before bed and all was well, got up this morning and one new growth tip (just happened to be the one growing the best so far too) was almost completely severed all the way through. And, the cut was pretty fresh. So, from there I proceded to check all my plants thoroughly and the room for that matter (i.e. floor, tables, chairs, everything) for any signs of anything.......come up with nothing. Any ideas as to what might be doing this to my cacti? Side note* other than aphids, I found 1 larvae of something, not sure what it was but I killed it. The larvae was roughly 3-5 mm long, less than 1 mm thick, very slender white with a black head, and spins silk. It looked like a super tiny white inch worm. It was very hard to see and the only reason I found it was I thought it's head was an aphid on an area of white scar-tissue. Shaggy __________________ LOL! My house doesnt exist on the member map! Get a little Love in your life. Jump in a Mosh Pit! The only place where every emotion one person can feel will join together and express all at once.

04-12-2009, 04:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,788 BananaBucks : 123,320 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Pitaya pest.. Hard to say. __________________ Scot

04-12-2009, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 312,626 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Pitaya pest.. Sounds like a cutworm. Keep looking for those little buggers, and give the Pitahaya a good spraying with insecticidal soap.

04-12-2009, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
alpha010 Metal Nanners!! alpha010 's Photo Gallery Location: Mineral Ridge, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 on arborday 5b on USDA Name: Bob aka Shaggy Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 470 BananaBucks : 141,097 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 121 Times Was Thanked 238 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Pitaya pest.. Thanks guys, i'll give those a try. Shaggy __________________ LOL! My house doesnt exist on the member map! Get a little Love in your life. Jump in a Mosh Pit! The only place where every emotion one person can feel will join together and express all at once.

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