Strange bugs on Blackcurrants

[Glenys]

We have some wierd things living on one of our blackcurrant bushes! I have enclosed the only pjhoto I could find of it on the web, but it had no discription, so am still in the dark.

It looks abit like the shell of a wood louse, but under it is a thick lump of what appears to be white gloop, but when it is disturbed, the white bit pulls out like sticky silk/candyfloss fibre.

Any suggestions, eradications, and if there are any natural predators we can introduce instead.

ThanX Glenys Sheffield UK

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[David Hare-Scott]

The photo isn't very close but from your description I would say mealy bug. You need a contact insecticed with a soap or detergent to get through the goo or a systemic as they are sap suckers. On a small plant, eg house plants in pots, you can get them with a cotton bud dipped in metholated spirits. Apparently there is now a natural control agent Verticillium lecanii (a kind of fungus) but I have never used it and I don't know what name it is marketed under. Perhaps ask your local nursery.

D

[Pat Kiewicz]

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Hard to tell as the photo is small, but I am thinking it's cottony cushion scale.

[Drew Lawson]

That picture seems to be from this thread:

Guesses there are scale and wooly aphid.