| November & December 2011 |
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WHAT'S BUGGING YOU? A BON VOYAGE NEWS FLASH RED PALM MITES IN NAPLES South Florida is at SERIOUS RISK as these mites have been spotted on 10th Ave S. The mites are usually found on the undersides of leaves in large groups and are visible to the nakes eye. Adult females have black patches across their backs. All life stages including the eggs are red. The mites enter the country by wind and transprotation of infested plants or leaves. Feeding mites cause localized yellowing of the leaves followed by tissue necrosis. This could be mistaken for lethal yellowing in some plants. State and Federal agricultural officals are working with the University of Florida on treatment protocals. Some pesticidees have been effective. KEEPING PALMS HEALTHY IS ALWAYS THE BEST DEFENSE. PEST ALERT A new soft scale insect has affcted crotons, gumbo limbo, guava and mango trees, firebursh and other plants and kills them quickly. Adult females have a greenish yellow appearance with dark striations. Immature males have a glassy appearance while adult males are small orange bodies, gnat-like with wax tail filaments. Dead scale will remain for weeks after treatment. Live scale will exude body fluid, dead scale will not. No method is available to remove the waxy outer coaing once the scale is treated except by physically rubbing the scale off. Contact sprays, oils and drench's have shown some effectiveness when applied at the right tme, althoug multiple applicatins may be required. |