Ants keep crawling towards the citrus plant in the pot - that should be an initial but serious warning sign. Check your citrus plant because it could be infested with scale insects. Fast action is now required here!
How are scale insects controlled on citrus plants?
Scale insects on citrus plants can be attacked using asoap solutionor anoil-water mixture, but also mechanically, for example with aToothbrushmust be eliminated. It is important to treat and control the plant over several weeks. In addition,Beneficial insects specifically help against these pests.
How do I recognize scale insects on citrus plants?
Scale insects aremaximum 6 mmlarge,whitetobrown colored pests that… Citrus plants can only be recognized upon closer inspection. They also include the so-called mealybug, which is striking with its white, felty appearance. Scale insects live under a protective shell and leave their sticky excretions, honeydew, on the citrus plants.
What effects do scale insects have on citrus plants?
Since scale insects suck out theplant juicefrom the leaves and shoots of citrus plants,weakenthem the plant.light spots appear symptomatically on the leaves. By sucking out plant sap, citrus plants such as the lemon tree become more susceptible to all kinds of diseases.
How to remove scale insects from citrus plants?
Using an oldtoothbrushyou can remove the scale insects from your citrus plantTo do this, hold the affected leaves in the palm of your hand and brush them pests. If the infected citrus plant is outdoors and has already grown vigorously, you can arm it with awater hosespray and thus remove annoying scale insects.
Which remedies help against scale insects on citrus plants?
It is possible to combat scale insects withhome remedies. Thesoap lye, which you make from 1 tablespoon of curd soap and 1 liter of water, has proven particularly useful. The mixture is poured into a spray bottle. Now the scale insects can be sprayed. Instead of soapy water, a mixture ofrapeseed oil and water is also suitable for spraying on the pests. Both the soap and the rapeseed oil block the airways of each scale insect, causing it to die.
To what extent do beneficial insects help citrus plants?
Beneficial insects can be used outdoors andeliminatethescale insects on citrus plants. Beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps, lacewings and ladybirds are helpful against this louse.
Can scale insect infestation on citrus plants be prevented?
A scale insect infestation on citrus plantscan be prevented As a rule, weakened citrus plants that are temporarily cultivated as houseplants during the winter fall victim to scale insects. If the winter quarters for the citrus plants are too warm and too dark, the plants are stressed. They need a cool place to overwinter. Furthermore, over-fertilized citrus plants are more susceptible to infestation. These plants should under no circumstances be fertilized in their wintering quarters.
Tip
Spraying once is usually not enough
Even if it is time-consuming and not much fun: spraying with soapy water or an oil-water mixture once is not enough. This procedure should ideally be carried out daily for about two weeks. The reason is that scale insects are quickly overlooked and their small larvae often remain undetected.
