Content
- Combating Wollläuse on Orchids - So the plague has an end
- These symptoms help you recognize the infestation
- Home remedies fight lice in the early stages
- These insects like to feed on scavengers
- Tips
Wollläuse leave, as the name suggests, wool-like residues
Combating Wollläuse on Orchids - So the plague has an end
Cunningly they hide under a white wax tank, while they tap the life juice from orchids. Woll lice are among the most common pests on the popular indoor plants. Find out how to successfully fight the parasites here.
These symptoms help you recognize the infestation
Wollläuse hide their 0.5 cm small, oval body under a waxy protective layer. This tank keeps moisture and predators away. It is these tiny cotton balls on the leaves and shoots that primarily fall into the eye. Due to their explosive propagation, the affected orchid is covered in white spiders within a short time. In addition, the following symptoms indicate a lice infestation:
Since mealybugs are masters of camouflage, their presence only occurs when large colonies have already formed. Therefore, please take a look at the undersides of the leaves and leaf axils regularly, because this is where the dilemma usually starts.
Home remedies fight lice in the early stages
As long as lice are just setting up on a plant, you can kill the parasite with home remedies. In practice, the following methods have proven themselves:
For further treatment isolate the orchid from other plants so that the pests do not spread further. In the quarantine room spray the plagued orchid every 2 days with a mixture of 1 liter of water, 1-2 tablespoons of soft soap and 1 dash of alcohol. The specialized trade now also offers ready-to-use soap solutions.
These insects like to feed on scavengers
If a high infestation pressure has already developed, you will no longer achieve a resounding control result with home remedies. Instead of resorting to chemical insecticides, get effective protection from the animal kingdom. The following predators are available from specialist retailers and are enthusiastically hunting for lice on their orchids:
The parasitic wasp is active only from a room temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the predatory ladybird feels at normal room temperatures well and destroyed during his about 50 days long life countless mealybugs. Once the pest colonies have been eliminated, the ladybugs migrate to search for new grazing grounds.
Tips
In winter, lice have a boom. The dry heating air in living spaces provides sustainable support for the pests. Often brought in by the purchase of new indoor plants, the lice now multiply explosively. By increasing the humidity to more than 60 percent, you are buying wool from the cutting edge.