The scale insect attacks the spindle bush like an overwhelming army if nothing is done. Within a short time, these scale insects have multiplied and are greedily sucking on the leaves until the spindle bush is doomed to death.
How can you combat scale insects on spindle bushes?
To combat scale insects on spindle bushes, affected plant parts can be cut off, lice can be brushed off with a toothbrush and beneficial insects such as ladybirds can be used. Alternatively, homemade remedies such as rapeseed oil mixtures or soapy water can be used.
What does the scale insect do on the spindle bush?
The scale insect is a parasite that feeds on theplant juicesof the spindle bushScale insects prefer to suck on the fresh leaves and petioles and until the leaves are completely eradicated and surrender. The scale insects also use the spindle bush as a place to lay their eggs. Your offspring will find plenty of food there so they can grow up quickly.
How do I recognize the scale insect on the spindle bush?
Due to the sucking activity of the scale insectsthe otherwise he althy leaves of the spindle bush are noticeably yellowing and initially on the upper side of the leaf. The initially point-like discolorations take over the entire leaf over time. After the leaves have dried up, they fall off.
You can recognize the pest itself by the typical appearance of a scale insect: a few millimeters small, elongated and white to brown-gray in color. It is usually located on the underside of the leaves.
How can the scale insect on spindle bushes be controlled?
As a control measure, you can cut off and dispose of the heavily infested parts of the spindle bush.
Areas that are only populated with a few scale insects can be cleaned by hand, for example with a toothbrush. This makes it easy to brush off the scale insects.
In addition, you can usebeneficial insects such as ladybirds, parasitic wasps and lacewing larvae.
Basically, it is advisable to use several strategies at the same time. The scale insect often turns out to be very willing to survive.
Can you prevent an infestation on the spindle bush?
You can prevent an infestation by the scale insect with the right care and a location that is beneficial to the plant.
The spindle bush should be fertilized regularly, but not over-fertilized. Over-fertilization with nitrogen means that the leaves are not robust enough. The location should not be too warm and not too dry. Spindle bushes in pots are often susceptible to scale insects.
Is it advisable to use chemical clubs on the spindle bush?
Chemical control agents or pesticides should always be thelast resort. They harm the environment and here, too, there is no guarantee that the scale insect will be completely combated. However, it is better to make mixtures yourself, for example based on rapeseed oil. Soapy water can also eliminate the parasites. Most homemade control products block the scalefly's airways and it dies within a few minutes.
Tip
Caution: scale insect quickly becomes resistant
The scale insect quickly becomes resistant to pesticides. For example, once treated with soapy water and eliminated, the offspring may later have developed resistance to it. Therefore, if the infestation recurs, use other means to combat the scale insect.
