Bouganvillea bug

[landlubber]

Hi, my first time of posting here, and I hope someone can help me.

I live in Spain, and have several established bouganvilleas, one o which has some nasty little bugs. The plant as a whole looks as thoug thick white fluffy paint has been thrown over it, but the stems ar becoming black and it is looking very sick. It is quickly being take over by this 'paint' which is in fact masses of very tiny littl white insects. Help, what is it and what should I do about it, I am trying to cut th worst of it back, but I think I should be using some chemicals t eradicate it before it spreads to the rest of the garden. Any idea please about what I should be doing. Regards, Landlubbe

-- landlubber

[Dan L.]

I am far far from being an expert. However, IF the bugs in Spain are the same as in Michigan, the bugs might be mites or aphids. The white paint are tiny eggs. They hatch and eat eat eat everything. Those bugs are not just found on one type of plant or tree. Take a good look at all of the plants or trees and see if they have those tiny white spots starting up. Also ants just love aphids - the ants will come next.

I have had aphids on my ornamental trees and I used a product by BONIDE called "All Seasons Spray Oil" it is a petroleum oil that is designed to smother the eggs. It worked and my trees quickly recovered.

Some of the true experts are found in this newsgroup and are very helpful. They may have a natural way of stopping the bugs. Also take a small branch too the local green house for their advice. That is what I did and found out about the little buggers.

Enjoy Life .... Dan

[Lar]

Would guess woolly aphids...mealy bugs, or a type of scale, all secrete a honeydew that will turn black with mildew. Several ways to treat for the insects depending on your preference. Quickest would be a contact kill insecticide followed by a systemic product. Mechanical means may be just power washing the plant with the garden hose. There are other insecticides ranging from insecticidal soaps to oils that seem to have different degrees of success depending on who you talk to.

Lar

[landlubber]

Hi Dan and Lar, thank you for your replies, having had another look (with my inexperienced eye ) I would think mite rather than aphid, s I'm off to the Garden Centre to let them have a look, and see what th locals recommend. Again thanks to you both. Landlubbe

-- landlubber